PR2 billiards-playing robot does really well

The PR2 might look rather unassuming, but this robot plays billiards differently without having to use an overhead camera with a perfect view of the table and balls. Not only that, it lacks a rig which allows it to position the cue virtually anywhere. No sir, the PR2 will play the game using the old school method, where it will look at the table from its vantage point, recognize all the various balls and pocket positions, while concoting a plan in its digital brain thanks to an open source pool physics simulation. Needless to say, its decisions will be based on its own joint limitations. Neat – good thing it won’t go mad when it misses a shot, and neither can it throw a fit and hit you over the head with its cue when you beat it for the umpteenth time.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Robots
Tags: pr2, Robot, Robotics