Rooting for robots at the Winter Olympics

Spectators who get lost in Olympic Plaza in Pyeongchang this month can ask for directions from a nearby guide that speaks four languages. Thirsty patrons who visit Gangneung Media Village can order drinks for delivery. And they can do all of this without talking to another human. South Korea is going big on robotics for the 2018 Winter Olympics, which begin on 9 February. Organizers will deploy about 80 robots at the games to showcase the nation's leadership in advanced robotics research. Eight companies-with US $1.5 million in sponsorship from the South Korean government-have been working on projects for the games since 2016. The roboticists who built all of these new robots are now preparing to unveil their technology on a world stage.