A robot to play with! A childhood’s dream has now come true for 
researchers at the Flanders’ Mechatronics Technology Centre (FMTC) in Belgium. Wim Symens and his team pioneered the development of the first robot ever to play badminton. But this robot is only a guinea pig to test a software application designed to optimise energy efficiency in machine design.
Link to article: http://www.youris.com/Energy/Ecodesign/The_Ecologic_Badminton_Robot.kl