Toyota’s robots have demonstrated impressive skills in basketball. And it will undoubtedly rise further with AI’s advancements. Following a remarkable achievement, Toyota’s innovative robotics program claimed a new Guinness World Record for the longest basketball shot by a humanoid robot, with a stunning distance of over 80 feet. Witness the breathtaking moment captured in the video below.
While Toyota’s prominent advertising presence at major sporting events like basketball might raise awareness, it’s not typically the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the sport itself? The corporation appears to be varying its pace in sync with the robotic cues.
In 2017, a team of dedicated Toyota volunteers worked on Cue during their spare time, laying the groundwork for its development. Here is the improved/revised text:
By early 2018, the primary technology, Cue, made its debut at a home game of the Alvark Tokyo, a professional basketball team in Japan.
Following its meteoric rise to social media stardom, Toyota subsequently introduced several innovative fashion lines across various model years. In May 2019, Cue3, the third-generation robot, set a Guinness World Record for “Most consecutive basketball free throws by a humanoid robotic (assisted)” – a remarkable feat of 2,020 successful shots.
Since its inception, the AI-powered robotic has demonstrated impressive advancements in its capabilities, mirroring human-like skills such as precision shooting from beyond the three-point line, deftly dribbling the ball, and consistently sinking free throws with ease.
With each technological advancement, Toyota’s robotics division aimed to push the boundaries of innovation further still, this time targeting a remarkable feat: setting the record for the longest basketball shot ever made by a humanoid robot. On September 26, 2024, Toyota’s C-HR (Compact Hi-Rider) achieved a remarkable feat at Nagakute, Japan, claiming its second Guinness World Record by successfully sinking an 80 ft 6 in shot.
As CUE launched his initial attempt, the ball clanked against the rim before rebounding back into his possession. Toyota’s robot successfully executed the shot on its second attempt. Check out a thrilling footage of Toyota’s basketball-playing robot in action and learn more about this innovative technology in the video below.
As he learns from his mistakes and addresses flaws such as posture, arm placement, and shot dynamics, Cue’s performance continues to evolve over time.
According to Tomohiro Nomi, Chief of the Cognitive Urban Engineering (CUE) venture at Toyota, “The synthetic intelligence, by applying robotic construction principles, identified and analyzed a throwing style deemed optimal.”
