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ESTHER Tennis Robot V. Fact (1934) And Fiction (1952)
Pretty amazing ESTHER (Experimental Sports Tennis Robot), named after wheelchair tennis athlete Esther Vergeer.
Not the first tennis robot - but then, it does return serves. Take a look at this beauty - from Modern Mechanix, May of 1934.
— Bill Christensen (@Technovelgy) June 4, 2023
Science fiction readers had to wait until 1952 to read about a tennis robot that could return serves in a story...
(Ref: https://t.co/RsssXbJntz…) pic.twitter.com/j4YrtG2puS
In an enjoyable HB Fyfe 1952 short story Manners of the Age, published in Galaxy magazine, science fiction readers were treated to a future in which autonomous, wheeled tennis robots could beat the pants off you:
THE red tennis robot scooted desperately across the court, its four wide-set wheels squealing. For a moment, Robert's hard-hit passing shot seemed to have scored. Then, at the last instant, the robot whipped around its single racketequipped arm. Robert sprawled headlong in a futile lunge at the return."Game and set to Red Three," announced the referee box from its high station above the net.
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