The Partner ‘plays like a human

Sports technology company Tennibot announced that its AI-powered autonomous tennis ball machine, The Partner is now shipping to customers. The Alabama-based organization said The Partner is designed to emulate the experience of playing with a real human.

The company added that The Partner is the first ball machine that moves, thinks and reacts like a true hitting partner.

Technical specifications for tennis practice

Tennibot said that The Partner’s shipping time comes at an ideal moment for tennis enthusiasts. Two of the sport’s four Grand Slam events take place during the summer. Wimbledon recently finished in London, and New York City is hosting the U.S. Open.

“There’s never been a better time to get out on the court,” said Haitham Eletrabi, co-founder and CEO of Tennibot. “The excitement around racquet sports is palpable, and now players can bring the most realistic and intelligent ball machine ever created into their own training sessions. The Partner doesn’t just fire balls – it learns from you, adapts to you and makes practice feel like match play.”

The Partner uses advanced AI and computer vision to track player movements and deliver realistic, dynamic shots anywhere on the court. It autonomously adjusts positioning, speed and difficulty in real-time, which Tennibot said is something no other machine on the market can do.

Other features of the new release, according to Tennibot, include:

• AI-powered custom drills: The Partner uses AI to enable players or coaches to create and save programmable shot sequences, including variations in spin, speed and placement. This makes it ideal for realistic match simulation or personalized skill development. 

• Follow me mode: Just tap a button and The Partner follows you on and off the court, eliminating the hassle of dragging heavy equipment.
• Auto-calibration and multi-player training: It automatically calibrates itself for accurate targeting and allows you to train multiple players simultaneously. This maximizes court time and minimizes setup, making it perfect for clubs and academies.
• Intelligent safety: Equipped with advanced sensors and cameras, it stops instantly if someone gets too close, making it ideal for users of all ages.

With a ball speed up to 70 mph, a capacity of 140 balls and compatibility across hard, clay, grass and Astroturf surfaces, Tennibot said The Partner is built to support a wide range of skill levels and training styles. The rechargeable battery powers up to five hours of continuous play.

Source: https://www.robotics247.com/article/tennibot_begins_shipping_ai_powered_autonomous_tennis_ball_machine?utm_source=Robotics%20247&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=End-user%20News&oly_enc_id=