"Metal on metal, the fighting REK robots were controlled by players on a VR headset, in this case UFC fighter Hyder Amil and MMA fighter Jessica-Rose Clark. MORE: Humanoids Summit in South Bay highlights robots aimed at improving everyday life "This is like a different kind of fighting," ABC 7 News Reporter J.R. Stone said. "Way different. I've never had a VR headset on before, let alone controlled a robot fighting another robot, it was sick," said Clark."
"At one point, both robots, which were well-balanced on flat surfaces, came crashing down after they stepped on a random keyboard thrown in the ring. "Jessy's went down first and then mine dramatically after," Amil said. "Robots are obviously insanely hard to do and VR is insanely hard to do," Nima Zeighami of REK said. "If you get them both right, what you get is this ability to feel like you are the robot.""
"Each one of these robots weighs about 80 pounds and are four and a half feet tall, even shaking the floor of the ring a bit. The REK company's dream is to have sponsored robot fighters competing around the world. Come Friday, the two REK robots will compete in their own sort of octagon at San Francisco's Temple nightclub. It's what is being billed as the "world's first VR-controlled humanoid fight.""
REK staged a preview fight in San Francisco where VR headset operators piloted humanoid robots in a boxing-style ring. UFC and MMA fighters tried the controls while the robots — about 80 pounds and four and a half feet tall — demonstrated balance, power and occasional instability when a keyboard caused both to crash. REK personnel emphasized the difficulty of building both VR systems and humanoid robots and described the immersive sensation of feeling like the robot. The company plans larger matches, aims to scale robots to adult male size by year-end, and envisions sponsored global competitions.
Read at ABC7 San Francisco
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