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    - Autonomous system “Ace” adopts Sony Semiconductor Solutions image sensors -
April 23, 2026

Sony AI’s Research Paper Published in International Science Journal “Nature”
- Autonomous system “Ace” adopts Sony Semiconductor Solutions image sensors -

Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation

Sony AIs research paper on its real-world autonomous system Ace, developed to accelerate advances in robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), was published on the cover of Nature Issue No. 8110, the international science journal. Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation (SSS) supported this research by providing image sensor technology.

Demonstration of the Ace:
Sensing by the high speed perception system with the IMX273 (Left)
and the gaze control systems with IMX636 (Right)


Ace is the first known real-world autonomous system competitive with elite and professional-level human table tennis players. This marks the first time a robot has achieved human, expert-level play in a commonly played competitive sport in the physical world – a longstanding milestone for AI and robotics research.

As part of the hardware enabling exceptional real-time sensing and control, the Ace system incorporates SSS’s global shutter image sensor “IMX273” and the event-based vision sensor (EVS) “IMX636.” These sensors capture fast-moving balls with complex spin and trajectories with high accuracy and measure the 3D position and angular velocity and spin, contributing to agile physical interaction between human and robot.

For further details, please refer to the press release issued by Sony AI.

SSS will continue to work with diverse partners to advance image sensor technology and create technologies that deliver new value and “kando” to people around the world.

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