The rock, paper, scissor robot can never be beaten at the game. (Ishikawa Oku Laboratory )
The rock, paper, scissor robot can never be beaten at the game. (Ishikawa Oku Laboratory )

Scientists at the University of Tokyo have created a robot which will beat a human at the game of rock, paper, scissors 100 percent of the time.

The robot is able to win the every contest as it is able recognise in a millisecond if a human hand form classic rock, paper or scissor position and then make its move accordingly.

Researchers at the Ishikawa Oku Laboratory at the University of Tokyo issued a statement: "Recognition of a human hand can be performed at 1ms with a high-speed vision, and the position and the shape of the human hand are recognised.

"The wrist joint angle of the robot hand is controlled based on the position of the human hand. The vision recognises one of rock, paper and scissors based on the shape of the human hand.

"'After that, the robot hand plays one of rock, paper and scissors so as to beat the human being in 1ms."

Diagram shows how the robot is able to win (Ishikawa Oku Laboratory)
Diagram shows how the robot is able to win (Ishikawa Oku Laboratory)

In effect the robot is able to win the every time by cheating, but it is able to it in such a way that it cannot be seen by the human eye.

The creators of the robot are hoping similar technology will one day be adapted and be used in situation where split second co-operation between a human and a robot is vital, for instance when dealing with volatile materials.