An ad recently surfaced online showing the Kuka robot taking on Timo Boll who is referred to as one of the greatest table tennis players in the world.

It’s tough to find a perfect ping pong opponent. If you are in that boat, consider KUKA robot as a wothy competitor.

An ad recently surfaced online showing the device taking on Timo Boll who is said to be one of the greatest table tennis players in the world. In the showdown between man and machine, Boll did end up winning but he seemed to struggle in getting balls past the robot.

The goal of the advertisement was to show how advanced the Kuka robots are. A comment appears at the end of the clip noting ‘Not the best in table tennis…but probably the best in robotics.’

The ping pong playing Kuka is shaped like an arm. Although it remains resting in the middle of the table, the arm which holds a table tennis racquet swings from left to right incredibly fast, making it very difficult to get a ball past it.

The ad not only highlighted the impressive technology of Kuka Robotics, but also the sport of ping pong. Said Boll ‘Wherever I go, people talk to me and bring up the movie. The campaign is more than just fun; it promotes the sport of table tennis worldwide.’