Alexander and Harrison Chen grew up playing ping pong against one another from a very young age. The brothers became training partners and over time each began to master the other’s tendencies and “epic” shots. When the Chen brothers both moved to different locations around the world to study it became difficult for them to find training partners to master their skills. Alexander and Harrison needed a way to continue their competitive passion for ping pong so they decided they would build a robot to train with while away at school. Starting with a prototype built out of a garbage can, the Chen brothers collaborated during summer and winter breaks using new knowledge to improve their robot.
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In February 2016 the brothers were accepted to the Hax Hardware Accelerator and have since made the transition from hobby to full-time investment. Alexander and Harrison have finished their 8th and final prototype and are raising funds on KickStarter to produce and sell the Trainerbot to casual or avid ping pong players.
Trainerbot is the first app-enabled ping pong robot and is compatible with iOS or Android devices. The first-of-its-kind robot has many amazing features capable of boosting any players level of play with plenty of practice. The dfevice is equipped with direction control, spin control, and even trajectory control. Using the app, players have the capability of choosing any spot on the ping pong table to direct the ball. For added challenges players can add a forward, backward or side spin to the ball.
Trainerbot also provides the options of delivering serves, slices or lobs to take a player’s game to a new level. Possibilities abound because the Trainerbot app is equipped with options to create custom shot sequences and trajectories of the ball. Players can also access the Trainerbot Community to practice other custom games, shot sequences or challenges created by peers.
The Trainerbot app automatically connects to the Trainerbot via Bluetooth and is very simple to began playing quickly. The robot is also travel-sized with dimensions of 16x32cm and 1.2kg. This allows the Trainerbot to be transported in a backpack or gym back. Players can either play at home or take it to a friend’s house to share the fun and excitement. Each Trainerbot pack includes 1 unit, 1 power supply and 30 ping pong balls and is valued at $329 which is the price of a few private lessons.
So far $63, 577 have been raised by 195 backers to support the production and distribution of the Trainerbot. Alexander and Harrison Chen have set a goal of $80k and have 52 days remaining to achieve it. Assuming they reach their goal, production of the first batch of units begins December 2016 and backers are scheduled to receive their units in February and March 2017.