"You just can't differentiate between a robot and the very best of humans," wrote Isaac Asimov in "I, Robot." While this argument does not hold up under any serious examination, it has long been the case that humans can design machines which exceed the physical capacities of their makers. For example, consider the Butterfly Amicus Prime. While it sounds like a "Transformers" character created by a lepidopterologist, it is actually a godsend to professional table tennis players on lockdown. One such sequestered star is Sathiyan Gnanasekaran, India's top-ranked player at world #31. While enjoying some mandatory quality time at home with his family in Chennai, Gnanasekaran has used the Butterfly table tennis robot to keep his game sharp despite his inability to train with other professionals. "The robot keeps me on my toes each day and I play with it for about one-and-half hours," he says. "With no practice partners available, this is the best I can do to keep myself in the game mode." While there is no way to replicate the surprises he faces in real matches, playing against the glitchy, wildly unpredictable machines called humans, Gnanasekaran is focusing on fine-tuning the purely mechanical aspects of his game. "Of course, the imported robot can never replace a human," he explains about the programmable practice partner. "It gives one shot for a backhand and another for a long forehand whereas a normal robot will put the ball only at the same speed. It can send 120 balls per minute and 300 balls can be loaded into it." The 27-year-old Olympic prospect is also an engineer, making him ideally suited to appreciate the robot's advanced training features. "It can generate speeds and spin on the ball which no human can manage to," says Gnanasekaran admiringly. "My receiving ability has improved and the flicks too have got better after playing with the robot," he adds. Gnanasekaran remains confident he will qualify for the Tokyo Olympics, despite their postponement until 2021. "I have confidence in my abilities," he says. "I have been playing really well and maintaining my ranking for the last three years. I am not too worried." In order to maintain his mental health during the lockdown, Gnanasekaran balances training time with family time, housework, gardening and Netflix. As for the Butterfly Amicus Prime, it stands by like the best of humans, ready to serve.

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