Unbeatable cyclops robot plays Pong

With methodical, mechanical precision, this GLaDOS-like robot beams a laser out of its cycloptic oculus, and is absolutely unbeatable at Pong.

[via Gizmowatch]

[#1 posted by RedShirt77 , February 2, 2009 12:47 PM]

I am sorry, at the super slow easy speed shown in the video, isn't every 11 year old "unbeatable"?

I am sure it wins matches, but only because every human human develops a deep subconscious urge to lose when faced with eternal boredom.

[#2 posted by Mister N , February 2, 2009 2:03 PM]

Unbeatable until:

1. The keypad stops working which might inspire a binary curse from this robot.

2. Power outage.

other than that..yes..unbeatable

[#3 posted by RedShirt77 , February 2, 2009 2:20 PM]

Unbeatable until:

3. the screen is smudged

4. an outlook email notification pops up and makes GLaDOS go crazy and start experimenting on people.

[#4 posted by theRadness , February 2, 2009 6:29 PM]

I'd be more impressed if it were an unbeatable robot that plays beer-pong.

[#5 posted by Brainspore , February 2, 2009 8:04 PM]

Did they build this thing before or after Wall*E?

[#6 posted by bcsizemo , February 3, 2009 12:07 AM]

I'm wondering why you need the robot?

Couldn't you just have a program that interprets the video frame buffer to determine the position, velocity, and trajectory of the ball and move the paddle accordingly? Whenever I see a robot playing something on a computer I think, "You know in 50-100 years they won't use a keyboard, they'll just low jack in."

Now robots playing ping pong, now that's the stuff.

[#7 posted by overunger , February 3, 2009 1:14 AM]

Jeezus, that's one crap-ass version of Pong! The 70s wire framey version was better than that fer cripes sakes. xp I'm sorry, but i fully agree with everybody, this video laughably sux.
I'm sure it's an important project for the guys involved and everything but man, the visual is like watching a Roomba backing into a wall over and over again on old, faded brown linoleum floor - withOUT the kitty on top!:)

[#8 posted by monkeymanmachine , February 3, 2009 1:19 AM]

What are those servos that it uses for hands?

[#9 posted by monstrinho_do_biscoito , February 3, 2009 5:58 AM]

impressive object tracking and anticipation robot. (i'm assuming that's the point of the robot, the pong playing is just a test)

but yes, i wanted to see it play a little faster.

[#10 posted by Brainspore , February 3, 2009 8:19 AM]

@ bcsizemo #6:

I'm wondering why you need the robot?

You don't, obviously. You could just have a computer playing against itself, without wasting electricity on a monitor for us humans to see what it was doing.

For that matter you don't need "Pong," either.

[#11 posted by Halloween Jack , February 3, 2009 8:36 AM]

The only way to win is not to play. Sit and spin, PongBot!

[#12 posted by the Other michael , February 12, 2009 9:14 AM]

dang, I love those wire-frame armatures and the jittery OCD keypresses....