ISPO Award Winner 2025: Acemate Tennis Robot

Unlike traditional ball launchers, Acemate isn’t static. It reads the game. It reacts. It moves. With dual 4K binocular cameras and advanced on-device AI, the robot perceives the court with a level of human-like accuracy, tracking the ball with centimeter precision and reacting in just 0.15 seconds. Its Mecanum wheels allow true 360-degree motion, so Acemate can pursue and return shots anywhere across the baseline. The result is more than a technological achievement; it’s the simulation of a live opponent built for modern training realities.

At its core, Acemate aims to address an ongoing challenge in tennis development: meaningful repetition. Rallies are where timing is honed, where the body learns to read trajectories, and where subtle improvements in footwork, swing path, and decision-making are reinforced. With Acemate, solo sessions are no longer limited to a machine that simply spits balls from one direction. Players are drawn into continuous, evolving rallies that imitate real match play. 

 However, the most transformative element is Acemate’s built-in coaching intelligence. Every shot you take contributes to a comprehensive data ecosystem. Spin, speed, depth, and placement data are transmitted directly to the app. Real-time heat maps show your consistency, video replays let you make instant corrections, and long-term analytics help you set goals and make structured progress. Acemate isn't just a training partner; it's a self-contained coaching environment designed to shorten the feedback loop between feeling, seeing, and improving. 

 The robot also serves as a highly versatile serving and drilling assistant. It can launch balls at speeds of up to 113 km/h with adjustable spin and supports 20 programmable target zones across the court. Whether you’re drilling short-angled forehands, sharpening deep defensive shots, or practicing return-of-serve timing, the Acemate becomes a fully personalized training system. With an 80-ball hopper and up to three hours of runtime, it keeps pace with players who expect intensity. 

As with many impactful innovations, the technology at play in the Acemate soon fades from conscious thought during use. That’s a mark of intelligent design. The dual 4K cameras, the Mecanum wheel system, and the on-device AI computing all exist to support a natural training rhythm rather than impose a technical feel. Players can use Acemate on any surface—clay, grass, or hard courts—without adjusting their routines or adapting to mechanical quirks. Instead, the robot adapts to them. 

The app interface follows the same philosophy. Clean visuals, intuitive controls, and intelligent shot mapping enable players to transition effortlessly between practice modes. Whether used by a beginner seeking structured support or an aspiring professional refining shot precision, Acemate’s digital layer remains approachable while offering depth when needed. 

This blend of accessible usability and advanced performance technology is part of a broader movement in sports robotics: tools that elevate human potential, not just automate actions. Acemate’s “big idea” is exactly that—bringing lifelike rallies and intelligent coaching to environments where they were previously impossible. 

• AI Features: Real-time coaching, heat maps, video replays, shot analytics 
• Court compatibility: Works on clay, grass, and hard courts 
• Drills & Zones: 20 programmable target zones