Two Robots Playing Baseball In Massachusetts Lab

Video shows two AthenaZero robots facing each other inside a netted laboratory cage as they take part in baseball batting practice, with one machine pitching while the other swings a blue foam bat.

The silver robot at the back throws a white baseball toward the other machine, which has purple covers over its arms. The nearer robot drives the ball, resets and swings again as another pitch arrives. Green lights flash on its torso before the clip ends with the RAI Robotics and AI Institute logo.

The RAI Institute released the demonstration in November 2025 on its AthenaZero platform. The machines can throw at speeds of up to about 70 mph, catch pitches reaching about 41 mph and hit balls pitched at up to about 30 mph from roughly 23 feet away.

The demonstration includes robot-versus-robot catching and batting, as well as work involving human pitchers. Founder Marc Raibert’s group developed the robots’ custom low-impedance arms, while motion-capture cameras are positioned above the cage.