German researchers have developed KiRo, a robot that they claim will grab the world title in table soccer by the end of the decade.

The University of Freiburg scientists connected the rods on one side of a table to high-powered motors and an electronic control system.

The bottom of the table is made of green see-through glass.
Underneath is a camera which scans the position of the ball 50 times a second and sends the data to a PC which is preprogrammed with knowledge about the dynamics of the ball and which calculates whether the ball can be blocked in some directions by opposing players.

KiRo then decides how to act and orders the appropriate rod to go into action.

The robot has won 85% of the matches played against casual players, but is yet no match for an expert.

“But in three to five years’ time, the robot should be able to beat the world champion,” Nebel claims confidently.

Freiburg University has licensed the technology to a gaming company that hopes to manufacture a robust version, priced at 20,000 euros (24,000 dollars), that will be commercialised from next year.

From Hindustantimes, via Robotics.