Science Fiction
Dictionary
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
 |
Ping Pong Robot Analyzes Own Game
This new ping pong robot is able to analyze its human opponents, constantly improving its game. Created by Professor Kidode at the Nara Institute of Science and Technology, this prototype robot can return the ball at a rate about 20% better than novice humans. But it is getting better!
According to the Nara Institute, the purpose of the ping pong playing is to create better industrial robots. Yeah, right. When you make a ping pong-playing robot, why not admit that you are developing sports robotics?
(Ping pong robot under development)
The first reference I can find to the idea of robots playing at sports is in Frederik Pohl's wonderful 1954 story The Midas Plague. In the story, human beings are exhausted by the requirement that they consume as much as possible, thereby enabling greater economic expansion. Helpful household robots take on the task of wearing out consumer goods, like golf clubs and accessories.
There was the butler robot, hard at work, his copper face expressionless. Dressed in Morey's own sports knickers and golfing shoes, the robot solemnly hit a ball against the wall, picked it up and teed it, hit it again, over and again, with Morey's own clubs.
(Read more about Pohl's consumption robots)
From CrunchGear.
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 11/14/2010)
Follow this kind of news @Technovelgy.| Email | RSS | Blog It | Stumble | del.icio.us | Digg | Reddit |
Would
you like to contribute a story tip?
It's easy:
Get the URL of the story, and the related sf author, and add
it here.
Comment/Join discussion ( 0 )
Related News Stories - (" Robotics ")
A'Seedbot Autonomous Desert Robot
'Each is planted most tenderly in its own little pit.' - Frank Herbert, 1965.
Gentle Monster Robot Head
'The robot knelt before the head, lifted it slowly, and with... its strong hands placed it on its shoulders...' - Hugo Correa, 1968.
Burro Robot Follows You And Gets Smarter
'Oh, there you are! the balloon piped at the amorphous mass of living tissue...' - Philip K. Dick, 1964.
Auto-Targeting Fire Sprinkler Systems Now Reality
I think every kitchen should have one of these.
Technovelgy (that's tech-novel-gee!) is devoted to the creative science inventions and ideas of sf authors. Look for the Invention Category that interests you, the Glossary, the Invention Timeline, or see what's New.
Science Fiction
Timeline
1600-1899
1900-1939
1940's 1950's
1960's 1970's
1980's 1990's
2000's 2010's
Current News
Star Trek Voyager Replica Tricorder And Galaxy Quest
'They designed those controls after watching you...take her out!'
Rolls Royce Electric Airplane Breaks Records
'A white electric plane approached at great speed...'
Chang'e-5 Lunar Lander Seeks Water
'... get out the solar power apparatus and send it down to us from the air-lock by the crane.'
I Really Want A Folding Computer
'...A paper thin polycarbon screen unfurled.'
A Kill Switch For Your Car?
'The car faltered as the external command came to brake...'
Scientifiction, Searchlight of Science
'And science goes on, with scientifiction as its searchlight.'
Wearable Biomedical Sensors Printed Directly On Your Skin
'The dragon is a skin computer... People put it on their arms and exchange personal data.'
Artificial, Implantable Kidney Prototype
'George Walt's corporate existence proved the workability of wholly mechanical organs...'
Ultra-short Pulse Laser Kills Bacteria In Vivo
'...coherent beams at precise wave-lengths passing through her flesh to zap foreign molecules within her body.'
Bioprint Prototype Handheld Bioprinter
'He turned the little art-derm nozzle...'
Betty Crocker, The First Company Avatar
'After six months of surgery and psycho-conditioning, he was identical with the other 496 Mr. Prestos...'
Augmented Reality Book Covers Reveal The Inner Book
'The E-paper holograms leaped from lurid covers...'
The First Multi-User Hologram Table?
Let the Wookiee win.
Apollo 8 Astronauts Pass The Equigravisphere
'... divers other objects, firearms and bottles, abandoned to themselves, held themselves up as by enchantment.'
Stellar Pizza Is A Pizza Robot That Comes To You
'No hand touched the food...'
Yamaha MOTOROiD Living Motorcycle Experiment
'He had never ridden any motorized device that lacked onboard steering and balance systems.'
