Sony has taken a significant step in sports robotics with Ace, an artificial intelligence system designed to play table tennis. This robot not only follows official rules but has managed to defeat elite human players in real matches. It represents a notable advance over previous projects, by facing and overcoming high-level professional opponents in documented tests.
The Complex Technology Behind Ace's Arm and Vision 🤖
The system combines a high-precision physical actuator with sophisticated real-time data analysis. An articulated eight-axis robotic arm executes shots with power and control. To perceive the game, it uses twelve cameras: nine reconstruct the three-dimensional position of the ball, and three precisely measure its angular velocity and spin. This information flow allows for calculating complex trajectories at high speed.
The Future of Sport: Robotic Coach or Rival Without Excuses? 🤔
The arrival of Ace presents a curious scenario for players. A defeat can no longer be attributed to a bad day or the opponent's luck when the opponent is a machine that does not get distracted. Furthermore, its presence as a perpetual coach, available 24 hours a day without complaining, might make humans long for the old days of training with flesh-and-blood partners. A sparring partner that doesn't accept a rematch for a beer.