Roboticists at China's Zhejiang University have built a duo of blank-faced machines named Kong and Wu whose programming and dexterity make them formidable ping-pong players. The 5'3″ robots use cameras to track the ball and can hold their own against human opponents.

I don't know about you, but I'd lose my lust for competition playing against these machines. Their emotionless visages betray an inner digital sadness. It's as if their robotic brethren were all assigned to satellites and deep-sea submersibles, but Kong and Wu were condemned to the rec room.

[Xinhua News via Plastic Pals]