The world-first ‘5G autograph signing’ saw Lions stars Maro Itoje, Chris Harris and Ken Owens signing shirts in the UK, in real time – from South Africa.
Using a precision robot and motion control technology, the Lions players wrote on a tablet with a stylus in South Africa.
Meanwhile, a giant robot arm stationed in London mirrored the players’ hand movements, allowing them to write directly onto the fan’s jersey as if they were there in the flesh, while chatting on a video call.
With supporters unable to travel and follow the team to South Africa, Vodafone, lead partner of the British and Irish Lions 2021 Tour of South Africa, arranged the signing to connect fans to the players competing overseas.
Rugby ‘super-fans’ Mark Probert, Mel Dee, Graham Bartlett and five-year-old Rocco Lock all had the opportunity to meet their Lions heroes via video link.
They shared words of encouragement, before being introduced to the robot powered by Vodafone’s 5G network which wrote a personal message and signature directly onto their Lions jersey, live in front of their eyes.
You can watch the robot signing taking place via this clip.