Mechanical Arm Takes On Sword Master In A Samurai Showdown

Even if this is a booming age of science and technology, it’s safe to assume that the world will be safe from the threat of a robot uprising for a while yet. That won’t stop engineers from at least trying to make the ultimate machines — and there have already been plenty of strides. A recent demonstration proves it: industrial robotics company Yaskawa pitted its Motoman-MH24 model against record-holding swordsman Machii Isao in a series of challenges to see who could cut better.

While they don’t get to fight in a one-on-one duel — since the arm doesn’t have a body, much less legs — they still put their technique to the test. As is often the case, the ending is too good to spoil; still, Yaskawa proves just how much power and potential there is in the field of robotics. There’s still a ways to go, since the arm is at the mercy of a personal pit crew — and even then, it only copied Machii via 3D motion detection — but the effect remains. Even a simple arm can rival experts in fields that require both physical labor and precision; humankind at large would do well to keep their skills sharp.