Japanese basketball robot beats professionals at free throwing

CUE was made by 17 volunteers from the Toyota Technology Association to celebrate the auto-makers' 70th anniversary.

The team has released a video of CUE taking part in a 'free throw' contest with the professionals. CUE scored five out of five, two more than the professionals.

CUE is 190 centimetres tall and learnt its skills via more than 200,000 practice throws, with the help of artificial intelligence. The robot will begin making regular appearances during half-time shows at Alvark Tokyo home fixtures. Its first appearance is set to take place on March 28.