MIT is working on improving the way robots see. Grad student Jared Glover and his team have refined existing algorithms to give robots very good eyesight.

The algorithm is based on a statistical construct known as the Bingham distribution, and it allows robots to see objects as well as identify their orientation.

It has much success too, and it boosted robot sight by 15 percent closer to the way we process visual data. 84 percent of the objects that the robots using Glover's system saw were identified correctly.

Next, Glover is hoping he'll be able to play ping pong with the robots. With super sight, they could calculate the speed and spin of the ball as it comes off the table and give them enough info to return serves that come their way.

Via MIT