Sony has unveiled Project Ace, a robotic arm that has been pitted against professional table tennis players. The robot, which uses a network of cameras and AI to track the ball's trajectory, was tested on a full-size court in Tokyo.
Ace learned through reinforcement learning, allowing it to adapt during rallies and serve under official rules. It can read the logo on the ball to gauge spin and react within split seconds.
The study suggests that AI trained in virtual settings can now transfer into fast, physical tasks, with potential uses beyond sport.
Researchers say the robot's speed, unusual perception, and consistency stand out, combining human-like physical reach and pace with advanced vision capabilities.