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Ace is A robot with high goals: He wants to become a world champion table tennis. Developed by Sony AI researchers who, in a new way He studies Research published in the journal Nature has shown how this robot, equipped with artificial intelligence, took on some high-level athletes and maintained its strength in matches played according to the official rules of table tennis.
This feat represents a major milestone in the world RobotsIt is a field that has long considered this sport, among the most technical sports in the world, as one of the most difficult tests of technological progress.
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We’ve already seen it artificial intelligence Systems win virtual competitions in games like chess, He goesAnd even StarCraft IIBut mastering physical games is much more difficult. The robot needs to sense unexpected changes in the external environment, interpret their meaning, decide how to react, and then perform the necessary action, all in a very short time.
This is exactly what Ace, a very complex robot consisting of three main parts, was able to do. It is equipped with a perception system that allows it to detect the spin of the ball, which can change its bounce and trajectory in the air, and it is also equipped with a sensor. Artificial intelligence system That can make decisions in real time. Finally, it has high-speed robotics: an extremely agile, eight-jointed robotic arm that can make quick, precise decisions about where and how to place the racket.
To put Ace to the test, the researchers had the robot compete against five high-level amateur players, resulting in three victories out of five matches. against two Professional players From the J.League, Minami Ando and Kakeru Son, however, Ace’s skills were not effective, winning only one out of seven matches. Subsequent analysis of Ace’s matches showed that the robot gained points not by hitting harder, but through its ability to control, blocking 75 percent of the balls.
“This research has shown that an autonomous robot can actually win a sports competition, equaling or exceeding the reaction time and decision-making ability of humans in a physical space.” Peter Dore saysSony AI director and head of Project Ace, said in a press release.
Beyond table tennis
ACE’s performance represents a breakthrough in robotics. It is a system that combines high-speed sensing, artificial intelligence For automated decision-making and control to compete with human players in real-world conditions, making extremely fast reactions in real time.
“Table tennis is a very complex game that requires split-second decisions as well as speed and strength,” adds Dorr. Bots like Ace can offer a way to learn new techniques and skills to improve player performance in many other areas.