Tech AI-powered table tennis robot takes on Olympic champion

[thomas]

A state-of-the-art table tennis robot, the ninth-generation Forpheus, developed by Omron Corp., showcased its remarkable abilities by challenging Olympic silver medalist Miwa Harimoto at a recent semiconductor industry event in Tokyo. On the final day of the Semicon Japan exhibition held at Tokyo Big Sight on December 13th, Forpheus took centre stage. Equipped with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence, the robot meticulously tracks the ball's trajectory and anticipates its opponent's movements. By analyzing this data, it executes precise and strategic returns, demonstrating the potential of robotics and AI in athletic endeavours.

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The robot was never intended to compete with top-ranked players, but developed to serve as a training tutor for practice sessions. But the latest version has generative artificial intelligence installed to allow the robot to converse with its opponent during practice. Saying she had watched video of Forpheus before the event, Harimoto said, "I am somewhat nervous because it seemed to be very strong." The pace was slow at first, so Harimoto and the robot were able to continue with a leisurely rally. Forpheus said, "It appears that you are an experienced table tennis player." That drew laughter from the audience. The robot said faster balls would be returned and the pace quickened, but it could not return a strong smash by Harimoto.

Table tennis robot takes on Olympic medalist at Tokyo fair | The Asahi Shimbun: Breaking News, Japan News and Analysis

The technology has visibly improved since 2017:

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[mdchachi]

I saw it in 2020 at CES.