Shenzhen-Made Aceii One Raises $770,000 on Crowdfunding

A Shenzhen-made AI tennis robot is making waves. In September, the AI tennis robot named Aceii One launched its crowdfunding campaign on the US platform Kickstarter, having raised over $770,000 to date, approximately 200 times its initial goal of $3,858, with 644 backers.

The Aceii One consists of a ball hopper that holds up to 120 balls and a ball machine. When assembled, it is roughly the size of a golf bag or carry-on suitcase, easily fitting into a car trunk. This portable design breaks away from the bulky and stationary form of traditional tennis ball machines.

According to Kickstarter, the Aceii One crowdfunding period ran from September 23 to October 29. Although the campaign has ended, backers can still support the project. Reward tiers include early bird prices of $999, $1,199, and $1,399. Once mass production and retail launch, the estimated retail price is $2,099 per unit.

This tennis robot is manufactured by Shenzhen Yisi Artificial Intelligence Co., Ltd. (Aceii). Both founders, Ricky and Luca, along with core team members, are avid tennis fans.

Ricky has over a decade of experience in robotics, having worked at DJI and KUKA. In 2022, he founded the smart lawn mower brand Hookii. Luca is an engineer with dual degrees, a supply chain investor, and an expert in smart hardware marketing and operations. The core team includes engineers, designers, sports scientists, and tennis players, many holding master's or doctoral degrees from top universities in the US, UK, and Australia.

Above: Aceii One R&D team

The Aceii One boasts impressive mobility. Its base is equipped with four casters, and according to official data, it can cover half a court in 1.2 seconds with an acceleration of 3.5 m/s. This means it is no longer just a "ball machine" that shoots from a fixed point at different angles, but a "robot" that can simulate an opponent running and changing hitting positions on the court.

The unit is equipped with two AI-powered stereo cameras that track the player's position in real time and capture serves up to 130 mph. Through algorithmic decision-making, it can hit balls to the forehand, backhand, volley at the net, or return the ball to the court, similar to real rally play. Its maximum serve speed is 80 mph (approximately 128.7 km/h), meeting professional training needs. With a dual-stage launching system, it can fire balls at intervals of 0.5 seconds, the fastest firing rate among ball machines globally.

Based on feedback from hundreds of coaches, professional players, and enthusiasts worldwide, as well as analysis of thousands of match models, Aceii One has also developed three competitive modes. With the match system, training is no longer limited to "repetitive practice" but evolves into real competition:

- Ranking Mode: A scientific scoring system assigns users to exclusive rankings based on NTRP levels;

- Challenge Mode: Like leveling up in a game, each breakthrough unlocks new achievements;

- Versus Mode: Aceii One intelligently learns shot data to build personalized player profiles. Users can invite friends to compete or download professional player profiles to challenge their styles.

After each training session, Aceii One syncs data to the smartphone app for users to review and analyze.

Above: Aceii One manufacturing and assembly process

| Source: Kickstarter platform

| Image source: Kickstarter platform