In one of the weirdest basketball displays you may ever see, the Japanese B.League pit man against machine in a battle for three-point shooting glory.
As reported by Sports Illustrated, a robot named Cue battled in a three-point shooting contest against two human players from Japan’s B.League team, the Alvark Tokyo.
Built by Toyota, the human-formed robot is powered by a sensor on its body, with mechanized this or that allowing its knees to bend, so that it can shoot. But its skills stop there: Cue the Robot cannot run, jump or dribble, according to SI. (Do we want this thing to run, jump or dribble?!?!?!)
So, would the day ever come that robots could be designed to compete with — or against — NBA players?
Since Cue even exists, chances are high technology will develop further to allow a machine to run, jump and dribble, just like a human basketball player. But without a soul for competition, it is doubtful such a display would be very interesting. As it is, without the artistic flourish of three-pointers made by Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Cue’s lone offering to the game was precise, but not pretty.
You be the judge:
Cue the Robot with a near half-court three
Steph Curry … from half court (and beyond)
