alt Hacker NewsYes, the autonomy level of these robots was what I was yesterday emailing with my former colleagues we were wondering. Two months ago CNET & PC-Mag posted following video which suggests more about robots movements being assisted by humans. And it also shows Chinese have being edge of the development at that point.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXTibM33SDg
However, then another short video bit alike popped up and is puzzling too.
Apparently Unitree robot is playing pingpong match like a pro. Sorry about german announcer, I couldn't find with english.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/BgD1ukTyNnw
There is another match viewable by pressing that "Robot plays ping ppng #robot" arrow.
How about that robot? Is it human assisted or not? Our opinions diverted, I'm quite sure it is assisted but my former colleague thinks it's got to be autonomous as it would be too difficult and slow to do that fast movements with remote control assisted robot.
It would be nice to hear opinions about that playing robot too if anyone could provide some insight in that.
edit: I think the serve waiting robot hand movement and after losing wiping left eye gesture as a disappointing a bit in my opinion gives up it's human. Or if not, why would a robot do such a human like gestures.
edit2: OK, good points, I see now. It's definitely a fake. Thanks to all who replied :)
Replies
here is a real video of a unitree robot playing ping pong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOfPKW6D3gE
I think the ping pong match video might be misleading you. Based on the visual artifacts around the robot, the original footage likely had a human player that was swapped in with a robot in this video. It also has an altered content warning.
The ping pong video you linked is clearly fake. Look at the paddle... anyways...
I can think that future use of pingpot robot is to replicate specific pro player style (from various recording) and be used to spar by pro players before their specific matches.
Watch out, the two shorts you linked (both of robots playing ping-pong) are fake.
The pingpong video is very obviously computer generated. The robot feet give it away immediately
The second video you've linked is fake in every aspect in regards to the robot.
The robot is floating above the ground.
The paddle is phasing in and out of existence.
The robot has a realistic human hand and uses it to hit the ball.
The robot randomly turns around mid-air near the end of the video.
The robot looks nothing like a Unitree robot.
Oh, how could I forget, the entire robot looks so obviously fake even when disregarding all of the above that I can't believe you're even trying to analyze anything in that video.
I'm 99% sure that ping pong match is CGI. The whole robot has this green screen effect. Look at its feet. And at second 17 it just disappears entirely for a few frames.
that ping pong video is a CG robot, whether realtime superimposed or otherwise who knows. Look at the :27 when it gets out of tracking breaking all of physics, feet aren't planted to the ground, light, shadows.. etc.