Table Tennis Playing Robot
Even a table tennis match is no longer a challenge for Google DeepMind's new robot! AI is proving its ability to handle complex tasks requiring rapid decisions in more and more fields.
By combining Google DeepMind's AI with an ABB industrial robot arm, a table tennis playing robot has been created that delivers serious performance at an amateur level. The robot competed against human players and managed to win 45% of the matches (details below), which is already a solid achievement in itself.
How does it work?
The heart of the robot is an ABB IRB 1100 industrial robot arm equipped with DeepMind's proprietary AI software. This software enables the robot to execute various table tennis strokes, such as forehands and backhands. Each move is underpinned by a low-level skill, which the robot's high-level controller selects and uses at the most appropriate moments. With this modular approach, the robot flexibly adapts to different game situations.
Source: DeepMind
Real Performance: How Skilled is the Robot?
It played 29 matches against human players of varying skill levels. The results were mixed: it achieved a 100% win rate against beginners, while winning 55% against intermediate players. However, it failed to win against advanced players, losing all matches in this category. Despite this, the robot generally performs at a solid amateur level, representing a significant step forward in applying artificial intelligence in real-world scenarios.
Source: DeepMind
How Does the Robot Learn?
During its training, the robot started learning in a simulated environment and then practiced in the real world to further develop its skills. The system learned to handle various ball spins and speeds, although it still struggles with some challenges, such as high-speed balls or predicting heavily spun shots. These challenges highlight how difficult it is to simulate real-world physics for software (Moravec's Paradox) and emphasize that further development of AI predictive models is essential for the continued advancement of robots.
Why is This Robot Important?
While a table tennis playing robot might initially seem like just an interesting toy, it represents much more. The technologies employed here, such as the hierarchical policy architecture and real-time adaptation, are applicable in numerous other fields requiring quick reactions and adaptability. Whether it's home automation or warehousing tasks, these developments signify a new level of robotics, bringing us closer to effective collaboration between machines and humans.