Skip to main content

Meet RXT-1, the robot punching bag that punches back

Everyone’s a tough guy in the gym until their punching bag starts punching back. That’s the idea behind the RXT-1, described by its creators as the “world’s first sparring robot.”

While it more closely resembles a punchy version of the wacky waving inflatable tube man than a robot Mike Tyson, the RXT-1 could nonetheless be a valuable tool for training boxers and MMA fighters. It does this by not just giving them an approximately person-sized target to aim punches at, but also four foam robot limbs which it uses to strike back, thereby giving the human fighter something to dodge.

“When I started developing the RXT-1, I noticed a void in technology in the combat sports industry,” creator Brent Verdialez told Digital Trends. “The equipment they are currently using is archaic and has been used for thousands of years. They are good for developing power and speed, [but] nothing was made to simulate an actual fighter or a striking coach. I wanted to develop both in one system.”

Verdialez said that he didn’t come from an orthodox robotics background. He learned about electronics and engineering from working in the military as a Special Forces engineer.

RXT-1
RXT-1

“After a wrist injury, I could no longer strike a punching bag or focus mitts,” he said. “[Because of my job], I still needed to keep my combat skills sharp, and wanted to make an in-home sparring partner and striking coach to work on my combinations. I started researching and testing a robotic arm that could simulate a strike. After six months of developing, I finally made the RXT-1 come to life.”

There are three training modes the robot employs: Practice, spar, and combinations. In practice mode, the robot presents the opportunity to practice single-strike techniques by striking at the user with one arm at a time, every two seconds. In spar mode, users get to set the intensity and attack level and then engage with randomized or sequenced strikes from a sparring partner that never gets tired. Finally, combination mode is a focus pad coach that trains users in over 100 strike combinations. (You can program your own as well.)

As with any Kickstarter campaign, we offer our usual warnings about projects that don’t ship either on time, as described, or, sometimes, at all. But if you’re aware of these risks and still want to get involved, head over to the project page to make your pledge. The RXT-1 starts at $699, while another version with torso will set you back $899. Shipping is currently set for February 2021.

After that, all your household robots — from your unthanked Amazon Echo to your perpetually cleaning Roomba vacuum — can gather round and watch you get your butt whooped by a fellow machine!

Editors' Recommendations

Luke Dormehl
I'm a UK-based tech writer covering Cool Tech at Digital Trends. I've also written for Fast Company, Wired, the Guardian…
Telepresence classroom robots trialed for absent students
best telepresence robots

A school in Japan is turning to robots to tackle rising truancy rates.

The school in Kumamoto, southwest Japan, will allow absent students to control telepresence robots in the classroom. Officials behind the initiative hope the setup will eventually encourage the students to return to school, the Mainichi newspaper reported.

Read more
The squishy Sensiworm robot goes places other robots can’t
GE Aerospace's Sensiworm robot.

GE Aerospace's "Sensiworm"

GE Aerospace has unveiled a remarkable -- and remarkably squishy -- robot called Sensiworm (Soft ElectroNics Skin-Innervated Robotic Worm) that’s set to enhance aircraft safety.

Read more
Apptronik’s new humanoid robot is a rival to the Tesla Bot
Apptronik's Apollo humanoid robot.

Another humanoid robot has come sniffing for your job.

Created by Texas-based Apptronik, the new robot worker, called Apollo, certainly looks like the real deal and is far from the kind of clunky, awkward contraptions that sometimes appear at such unveilings. That's probably because Apollo is the culmination of Apptronik’s experience and expertise in creating more than 10 other robots, among them NASA’s Valkyrie humanoid robot.

Read more