In 1970, an inventor in Princeton, New Jersey, turned a vacuum-cleaner motor into a ball launcher. Bob McClure’s “Little Prince” became the starting point for Prince’s tennis-equipment business. For decades afterward, ball machines followed the same plan: park a box on the baseline, feed balls from one spot, and supply the rest yourself. Newer designs, such as the wheeled tennis robot, are starting to break that routine.
AceiiLab’s A1 asks a different question. What happens when the feed point moves? The company describes the A1 as a moving AI tennis robot that repositions itself between shots, using cameras and a wheeled base.
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The A1 was first introduced on Kickstarter in 2025 under the name Aceii One. According to the company’s press release, the robot raised HK$6.43 million from 679 backers, including 212 in the United States. The founder named in an earlier report, Liu Liqian, previously built robots at DJI and KUKA.
Movement is the point of a wheeled tennis robot
In tennis, the shot is only part of the exchange. Players adjust their feet, recover their position, read the other side of the court, and get ready again. The A1, a wheeled tennis robot, is built around that cycle rather than around a steady stream of balls from one place.
AceiiLab says the robot can move along the baseline at up to 4 meters per second, or about 13.1 feet per second, with acceleration of up to 4 m/s². Its 4K dual-lens vision system tracks the ball, the player, and the court without wearable sensors. After each shot, the A1 predicts the landing point, moves into position, and delivers the next ball.
This wheeled tennis robot offers baseline, sideline, and service-line modes. Players can set the interval between balls from 0.5 to 15 seconds. The launcher delivers balls at up to 80 mph and produces topspin, backspin, and lobs up to 26.2 feet, or 8 meters, over the net. Each feed uses a fresh ball from the bag, so the player faces a changing sequence of angles and timing rather than a repeating swing.
Folding up for the trip
A responsive session matters less if moving the equipment is a chore. Folded, this wheeled tennis robot has a suitcase-style body roughly the size of a checked bag, with a pull rod and wheels. The company lists foldable legs and a detachable ball bag that holds up to 120 balls.
The robot weighs 52.5 pounds, or 23.8 kg, without its battery. That is heavy enough to plan for when loading a car. The battery is removable and rated by AceiiLab at up to eight hours of static feeding or two hours of dynamic training from its 36V 7Ah pack. A spare battery lets a player stretch one session into several.
The company says the A1 works on hard, clay, and grass courts. A built-in racket holder, cup holder, and storage compartments keep some of the practice kit in one unit.
Apps, wrist controls, and an AI coach
The wheeled tennis robot connects to an app for iPhone and Android. Apple Watch support adds wrist-based control, and gestures can start or pause a session without walking back to the machine. Players can run preset drills, build custom sessions, or enter Challenge and Ranking modes.
Custom drills let players adjust ball placement, speed, spin, and interval. The AI Coach reviews session data such as landing points, pace, and consistency. AceiiLab says the feedback helps players spot weak areas and track progress over time.
The company rates the A1 for NTRP 1.0 to 5.0, the US recreational rating scale that runs from beginners to strong club players. It is aimed at players who need practice when a partner is unavailable, and at coaches who want another way to structure individual drills.
Players who like tracking every session from their wrist might also enjoy Garmin’s Enduro 4 and Approach S72 smartwatches, built for long endurance efforts and precise sport performance.
Pricing depends on the listing. AceiiLab lists the A1 at $1,999 during its Black Friday 2026 promotion, down from a $2,599 list price, and says savings reach up to $1,360 on selected packages. Another listing shows $1,949. Bundle details and purchase terms appear on the company website.
Ricky, identified as founder in the company’s press release, framed the goal this way: “That’s why we created the A1: to make solo practice feel closer to real tennis and help players see how far they’ve come.” The claim is the company’s own, and it will be tested on court. Bob McClure gave players a tennis ball machine that hit balls while they worked alone. The A1 asks whether that machine can also move, and whether the movement makes solo practice more like a match.
H/T yankodesign.com
Frequently asked questions
How fast does the AceiiLab A1 tennis robot launch balls?
The A1 launches balls at up to 80 mph and can produce topspin, backspin, and lobs. Its lobs reach up to 26.2 feet, or 8 meters, over the net.
How much does the AceiiLab A1 wheeled tennis robot cost?
AceiiLab lists the A1 at $1,999 during its Black Friday 2026 promotion, down from a $2,599 list price. Another listing shows $1,949, and bundle details are on the company website.
How much does the wheeled tennis robot weigh?
The A1 weighs 52.5 pounds, or 23.8 kg, without its battery. The battery is removable and can be swapped out during long sessions.
How long does the A1 battery last during a session?
AceiiLab rates the battery at up to eight hours of static feeding or two hours of dynamic training. The battery is a 36V 7Ah pack, and a spare battery lets a player extend a session.
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