Up until now, ping pong has always been a two-person sport. Some partners are unbeatable; others are a good match, but they’re not always around. But thanks to the Trainerbot, you’ll have someone to play with at all times.
The brainchild of brothers Alex and Harrison Chen, this smartphone-controlled ping pong robot is compact enough to fit inside a bag so you can practice anywhere, at anytime. Simply rest it on the table, plug it in and it will automatically connect to its accompanying app over Bluetooth.
The idea for this project came about when the brothers went off to college and found it difficult to play against each other as often as they would like. So, Harrison developed the first Trainerbot prototype out of a household trash can, while Alex spent a lot of time watching videos online.
Trainerbot is equipped with five customizable motors that enable it to shoot anywhere on a ping pong table. You can program specific shots, hone your skills and simulate games via its app. Want to practice your forehand to a certain corner? Perhaps you want to learn how to deflect a top spin shot? Or, maybe you’re having trouble returning serves? Luckily, Trainerbot can do it all with just a tap of your mobile device. You can also plan exciting drills with Trainerbot by configuring a sequence of up to 30 varied shots. They’ll then be spit out the way you wanted.
What’s more, the app functions as a ping pong network, where you can define your trick shots and show them off to your friends. Trainerbot even allows you to link a tutorial video to YouTube, program a shot sequence and then share with the community.
Trainerbot was developed with the support of HAX and is now live on Kickstarter, where the Chen brothers are currently seeking $80,000. Delivery is set for March 2017.