- Title: Ping pong coaching robot could be game changer
- Date: 5th October 2016
- Summary: MAKUHARI, JAPAN (OCTOBER 4, 2016) (REUTERS) MAN PLAYING TABLE TENNIS WITH ROBOT TABLE TENNIS TUTOR, 'FORPHEUS' ELECTRONIC BOARD ON TABLE TENNIS TABLE SHOWING LEVEL OF PLAYER MAN PLAYING TABLE TENNIS WITH FORPHEUS AT EXHIBITION BOOTH ELECTRONIC SCREEN SHOWING PLAYER'S LEVEL AGAINST FORPHEUS' LEVEL ELECTRONIC SCREEN SHOWING FORPHEUS AND PLAYER'S SYNCHRO LEVEL MAN PLAYING TABLE TENNIS WITH FORPHEUS FORPHEUS HITTING BACK TABLE TENNIS BALL WITH RACKET MAN PLAYING TABLE TENNIS WITH FORPHEUS (SOUNDBITE) (Japanese) SUPERVISOR AT OMRON CORPORATION, TAKU OYA, SAYING: "For example, the robot will hit back an arched, easy ball for beginners, and for high-level players, difficult shots. That means, anyone including amateurs and professionals can use this for training."
- Embargoed: 20th October 2016 20:23
- Keywords: robot table tennis world's first table tennis coaching robot Japan Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies CEATEC Forpheus
- Location: MAKUHARI, JAPAN AND RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- City: MAKUHARI, JAPAN AND RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL
- Country: Various
- Topics: Information Technologies / Computer Sciences,Science
- Reuters ID: LVA00152QDJYZ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The world's first table tennis coaching robot was unveiled on Tuesday (October 3) among high-tech gadgets showcased by more than 600 companies and organizations at Japan's Combined Exhibition of Advanced Technologies (CEATEC).
CEATEC is the biggest IT-electronic fair in Japan and is the place for major electronic companies to show off their cutting edge technology.
Visitors were wowed by the world's first robot table tennis tutor, Forpheus, exhibited by manufacturing company Omron, as it swiftly hit back balls in accordance with its opponent's skill level.
"For example, the robot will hit back an arched, easy ball for beginners, and for high-level players, difficult ones. That means, anyone including amateurs and professionals can use this for training," said Taku Oya, a supervisor at Omron.
Forpheus was displayed at last year's CEATEC, but did not yet have its current coaching technology.
The robot is able to read the ball's movement 80 times within the span of one second, and predict its' opponent's next move.
Peter Lyon, a motor journalist and visitor at the fair, was particularly impressed by the robot's sensors, after having a go.
"You can feel it actually helping you as it's playing, because it's hitting back in a way that allows you to hit the ball back easily, which, so you know, it's not trying to smash it all the time," Lyon said.
Some said the same technology could apply to coaching tennis.
Forpheus was recognized by Guinness World Record in January this year as the world's first table tennis coach robot. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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