Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    Menu
    Natural Sciences
    Health
    History & Humanities
    Space & Astronomy
    Technology
    Culture
    Resources
    Natural Sciences

    Physics

    • Matter and Energy
    • Quantum Mechanics
    • Thermodynamics

    Chemistry

    • Periodic Table
    • Applied Chemistry
    • Materials
    • Physical Chemistry

    Biology

    • Anatomy
    • Biochemistry
    • Ecology
    • Genetics
    • Microbiology
    • Plants and Fungi

    Geology and Paleontology

    • Planet Earth
    • Earth Dynamics
    • Rocks and Minerals
    • Volcanoes
    • Dinosaurs
    • Fossils

    Animals

    • Mammals
    • Birds
    • Fish
    • Reptiles
    • Amphibians
    • Invertebrates
    • Pets
    • Conservation
    • Animals Facts

    Climate and Weather

    • Climate Change
    • Weather and Atmosphere

    Geography

    Mathematics

    Health
    • Drugs
    • Diseases and Conditions
    • Human Body
    • Mind and Brain
    • Food and Nutrition
    • Wellness
    History & Humanities
    • Anthropology
    • Archaeology
    • Economics
    • History
    • People
    • Sociology
    Space & Astronomy
    • The Solar System
    • The Sun
    • The Moon
    • Planets
    • Asteroids, Meteors and Comets
    • Astronomy
    • Astrophysics
    • Cosmology
    • Exoplanets and Alien Life
    • Spaceflight and Exploration
    Technology
    • Computer Science & IT
    • Engineering
    • Inventions
    • Sustainability
    • Renewable Energy
    • Green Living
    Culture
    • Culture and Society
    • Bizarre Stories
    • Lifestyle
    • Art and Music
    • Gaming
    • Books
    • Movies and Shows
    Resources
    • How To
    • Science Careers
    • Metascience
    • Fringe Science
    • Science Experiments
    • School and Study
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science → News

A katana-armed industrial robot vs human samurai sword master

Machii Isao is an Iaido master and an expert sword wielder. He holds five Guinness World Records including "fastest 1,000 iaido sword cuts (36 min 4 sec)" and "most iaido sword cuts to one mat" (8), but you might know him as the real-life "fruit ninja" if you saw some of his stints up on YouTube. Check out how Isao fared against a robot.

Ben Allen by Ben Allen
May 18, 2016
in News, Robotics, Technology

YASKAWA BUSHIDO PROJECT

Machii Isao is an Iaido master and an expert sword wielder.  He holds five Guinness World Records including “fastest 1,000 iaido sword cuts (36 min 4 sec)” and “most iaido sword cuts to one mat” (8), but you might know him as the real-life “fruit ninja” if you saw some of his stints up on YouTube, including slicing a BB pellet in half as it was fired towards him at 200 mph.

It’s a rare sight indeed to see such a massive display of both showmanship and art. But what happens when you pair a world-class swordsman, like Machi Isao, with an industrial robot, like MOTOMAN-MH24. Well, I won’t bore you with too many details, but suffice to say we’re in for quite the show.

samurai bot
Image: YASKAWA BUSHIDO PROJECT

Of course, the two didn’t battle each other, but competed in Iaido tests like cutting mats and flowers in various cross-sectional directions. A highlight was when the robot horizontally sliced string beans measuring just 1cm in thickness!

At the end, the ultimate test unfolds: the famous 1,000 iaido sword cut challenge. Ultimately, both man and machine end up victorious, leaving behind a litter of straw and sweat as a testament to the very first “Senbongiri battle between the pinnacle of robotics and the peak of humanity.”

It was no easy feat to program the Motoman-mh24- – a high precision industrial robot developed by one of the leading Japanese corporations in the field, Yaskawa. First, a 3D motion-detection suit strapped to Machii’s body recorded every breath and subtle movement of the sword he made.

These same movements are then inputted into the robot’s memory, which acts as a mechanical copy cat — quite similar to the robot chef we mentioned earlier on ZME.  Secondly, giving a freakin’ samurai sword to a robot can be dangerous.

The katana used by the bot was a high-quality blade from the Edo Period personally selected by Mr. Machii. Quality or not, that didn’t stop the bot from breaking a sword or two. Maybe that’s why the cameraman had to wear an armor and helmet at all times.

Scene from the making of. Image: YASKAWA BUSHIDO PROJECT
Scene from the making of. Image: YASKAWA BUSHIDO PROJECT

Was this helpful?


Thanks for your feedback!

Related posts:
  1. Robot prosthetic helps drummer play like a three-armed cyborg
  2. Teaching a robot how to sword fight might support safety advances
  3. Robot see, robot do: MIT software allows you to instruct a robot without having to code
  4. Viking, Samurai, or medieval knight? AI reimagines Spider-Man in stunning images
  5. Zooplankton are armed to the teeth with spears and ballistic weapons, electron photography shows
Tags: katanarobotsamurai

ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • Reviews
  • More
  • About Us

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Health
    • History and Humanities
    • Space & Astronomy
    • Culture
    • Technology
    • Resources
  • Reviews
  • More
    • Agriculture
    • Anthropology
    • Biology
    • Chemistry
    • Electronics
    • Geology
    • History
    • Mathematics
    • Nanotechnology
    • Economics
    • Paleontology
    • Physics
    • Psychology
    • Robotics
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.

✕
ZME Science News

FREE
VIEW