Robots have just entered a new realm: they are now wielding swords.

The Japanese robotics company Yaskawa Electric Corporation has just released a video of their latest creation, a robotic arm programmed to brandish a katana with as much precision and speed as the world's most accomplished master swordsman.

The Motoman MH24 robot arm stands as tall as a man and is the fastest robot in its class, thanks to cutting-edge technology that enables the arm to move with lightning speed and pin-point accuracy. The researchers at Yaskawa wanted to see if the arm could mimic the sword-wielding skill of Isao Machii, the five-time world record-holding katana master, so they enlisted the master to test the robot's abilities.

The katana, a traditional Japanese samurai sword, sports a long curved blade, which, when placed in the hands of a master like Machii, can cut through objects with lethal precision.

In order for the robotic arm to perform like a katana master, the engineers at Yaskawa fitted Machii with a motion capture suit that recorded his movements while executing various types of cuts. The data was fed into the robot and, over several months, engineers programmed the arm, refining its accuracy so that it matched that of Machii. Once their work was complete, it was time for a showdown.

Machii and the robot were first put through various tests. They performed diagonal cuts through a cylindrical role of material, rising cuts through the stems of roses, and horizontal cuts through various pieces of fruit. But the most impressive display was when both robot and man ripped their swords horizontally, slicing a peapod lengthwise faster that you can blink an eye.

Once the demonstration cuts were completed, the timed competition ensued. Machii and the robot were challenged to perform 1000 diagonal cuts. The clock started and the swords flew. The cylinders of material were sliced and diced in rapid succession, but to the dismay of Machii fans around the world, the sword-wielding robot was able to out-slice the master and claim victory. As they lowered their swords, an exhausted Machii exchanged bows with the victorious robot as the Yaskawa team looked on with pride.