Katana-wielding robot brings full-blown Terminators one step closer to reality

Industrial robotics manufacturer Yaskawa has given us another glimpse of humanity’s imminent enslavement by robotic overlords.

In a video showcasing the Yaskawa Bushido Project, the company demonstrates the ability of its Motoman-MH24 industrial robot to replicate the movements of Iaijutsu sword master Isao Machii.

Machii holds a number of Guinness World Records involving swordplay, including “Most martial arts sword cuts to one mat (suegiri)”, “Fastest 1,000 martial arts sword cuts”, “Most sword cuts to straw mats in three minutes”, and “Fastest tennis ball (708 km/h) cut by sword”.

For its grand finale, the robot takes on Machii’s record for the fastest 1,000 martial arts sword cuts.

Yaskawa’s video follows the recent release of a video showing a walking robot that is able to keep functioning after two of its legs are broken.

MIT also published a video in May 2015 of its robot cheetah, which can now take a running jump over obstacles.

According to MIT, its robot successfully cleared obstacles up to 18 inches (457mm) tall while maintaining an average running speed of 5 miles (8km) per hour.

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