Nuvation shows off air hockey-playing robot

While robots are still quite a ways away from being able to challenge humans in sports like soccer, it looks like at least one company has managed to create a robot that's able to prevail in one somewhat athletic activity: air hockey. According to Nuvation, its otherwise unassuming robot arm here can not only hold its own against its human opponents, but beat them about 90 percent of the time. That, as you might have guessed, is done with the aid of an optical sensor that's programmed to follow the conveniently shiny puck and react like an old air hockey pro. Still skeptical? Check it out in action in the video after the break.

[hurricane @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:25PM]

Robots FTW

[ddub @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:31PM]

Finally not having any friends won't get in the way of my air hockey dreams.

[cmaikai @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:35PM]

The robot is good at defending, but not so great at hitting it back.

[DrNelson15 @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:54PM]

Apparently the robot wins by tiring his opponent out.

And in any case, I can hit an air hockey puck a LOT faster than that guy is.

[Vammo @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:15PM]

Funny, that's my main tactic for scoring too...with the LADIES.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Jun 24th 2008 12:56AM]

Notice in the background as the man is talking about the computer system, the robot does score on point on the human.

Now, if they would only add some nVIDIA-Ageia real time physics processing to calculate angles of deflection on the walls and velocity along with learning your opponents habits then exploiting them, this bot would make a real menacing opponent.

[Graham @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:35PM]

I wanna see one of these be placed up against another one, watch the match last for hours.

[Marcus @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:11PM]

If you wanted to become the world Air Hockey champion, this would be a good way to practise.

[Vammo @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:13PM]

That's a big "if".

[phanbouy @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:37PM]

i for one welcome our tooth-missing overlords

[deyanimay @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:42PM]

notice they run xp not vista.

[phanbouy @ Jun 24th 2008 12:28AM]

yknow... cuz you lose teeth playing hockey. not much canadian readership, eh?

[Doug @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:39PM]

I don't think that guy scored once against the Amazing Robot of D00m!
He did get scored on! haha nub!

[Leospark @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:44PM]

I, for one, welcome our new hockey-playing overlords.

[sam arieta @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:45PM]

first step robots beating us at sports
second step robots destroying us

[deyanimay @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:48PM]

think about it what if it had a knife and you were the puck in its programing then i could effectively defend against your attacks and stab you whenever you got near.

[ddub @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:19PM]

@deyanimay

I'm not usually a proponent of keeping guns legal in the states, but I think I'm starting to change my mind.

[Asha @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:57PM]

But are they any good at smack talk?

[deyanimay @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:58PM]

@ddub

I'm thinking we're gonna need more than guns say rpgs or rocket launchers, you know just in case they become too smart and disable their self destruct mechanisms. Just in case =).

[electron @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:51PM]

that thing is cool, but it plays worse than I do....

[kris @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:51PM]

I got next. I'd make that robot wish he was a can opener!

[Frankie @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:53PM]

I'm holding for the model that can play shuffleboard. Oh, and docks with my iPod.

[Downer Syndrome @ Jun 23rd 2008 6:56PM]

Oh good grief - I'm still trying to beat my 10 year old daughter ONCE and now they have robots that beat everyone.

Crap.

Back to Pong...

[DT @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:04PM]

Fuck you, robot!

[christopheraven @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:30PM]

Hey robot! Get back to building cars!

Next thing you know they'll start forming unions...

[Meltz @ Jun 23rd 2008 7:53PM]

I just wanna see the guy hiding behind the wall with a motion-capture suit on playing in front of a tv screen.

[John @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:17PM]

This would be more convincing if the guy they choose to play the machine didn't suck.

[Lowest Ranked @ Jun 23rd 2008 8:26PM]

I beg to differ. I actually found it rather laugh-inducing.

[Brendon @ Jun 23rd 2008 9:08PM]

Gee, I wonder if Michael from NuVation is Canadian...

[WaffleMatt @ Jun 23rd 2008 10:51PM]

NuVation is pretty sweet.

They had a presentation on campus at UW looking for students to hire.
If only I was an Electrical/Computer engineer.

I'm impressed with them overall. Though their flame-throwing robot was a bit cooler than the air hockey one, even if it was possibly a bit less technically advanced.

[ChangeOfFate @ Jul 11th 2008 6:21PM]

Oh yes "Much tougher to beat today" if you are playing at the speed of my grandmother then yes, I lose. I tend to hit the puck as fast as possible.

YOU LOSE ROBO ARM!

~cof

[Nick @ Mar 28th 2009 11:38PM]

I compete in air hockey at a national level, this company got a hold of the number 11 guy in the world for testing this thing. He said to us at the world tournament in vegas a couple of weekends ago... It's ability to block shots is mostly based from calculating angles from a stationary spot on the table. Meaning that if the puck is not moving or barely moving when you take your shot that you have zero chance of scoring. The processor can handle any speed on the puck. The only way to get a goal on it is to take a shot while the puck is in motion or lean over the table to blind the overhead "eye" where as it would take a split second to discover where the puck is after the shot.

Shameless self promoting: Anyone in the chicago area thinks they can play air hockey? I officially challenge you. We have weekly tournaments and are always looking for new participants. Visit airhockeyworld.com and check out the forums for more information. Thanks