MLB’s so-called “robot umpire” isn’t actually a robot standing behind the plate — it’s a camera-based tracking system and software working together with human officials.
The system, known as the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) system, uses high-speed cameras and algorithms to determine whether a pitch is a ball or strike. Researchers say calling it a “robot” can be misleading because there’s no physical machine making calls — instead it’s a network of technology, rules and people that collectively shapes how decisions are made.
The study argues that technologies like ABS don’t just enforce rules — they can change how the strike zone is defined and understood, since the digital system translates the traditional 3-D zone into a simpler 2-D model that’s easier to measure and display.
