Shanghai-based PongBot manufactures table tennis machines capable of launching balls and adapting drills.
Several Chinese technology companies are developing sports robots for training, designed to assist tennis, table tennis, and basketball players through automated throws, simulated rallies, and assisted passes.
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Shanghai-based PongBot manufactures table tennis machines capable of launching balls and adapting drills based on the player’s position and movements on the court. Unlike previous projects, these new robots function as practice tools for amateurs and athletes who train without a partner.
Another firm, OneRobotics, developed the Acemate robot, designed to move around, retrieve balls, and return them to the athlete during training sessions. Meanwhile, AceiiLab has a system that simulates rallies by launching balls from various positions to maintain the rhythm of the exercise.
The expansion of these technologies is already reaching other sports: the Lumistar brand is promoting CARRY, a basketball robot that uses cameras to track the player and send passes when it detects specific movements.
The second World Humanoid Robot Games, held from Aug. 22 to 26 in Beijing, features 51 events with a total of 1,301 competitions, attracting 666 teams with 2,056 humanoid robots from around the world, with the number of teams up 138 percent from the previous edition.
What does a… pic.twitter.com/66b207yjNY— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) August 27, 2026
PongBot’s Aura robot raised over US$4 million, while Acemate and Aceii One also attracted significant user investment. Several companies also received private investment, while OneRobotics reported the installation of its equipment in Chinese sports centers.
However, companies still need to demonstrate that these systems can offer more than just automatic throws. OneRobotics indicates that a future stage of development will include personalized recommendations based on the analysis of users’ movements using artificial intelligence.
Coaches in China believe these machines can be useful for repetitive practice and cost reduction, although beginners still need direct guidance from human instructors.
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Source: EFE
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