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Andrew Mehrtens (AAP, file)
A robot with a leg its inventor claims is "even sexier" than Dan Carter's has managed to match former All Black and star kicker Andrew Mehrtens in a world-first competition.
Robo Dan, a mannequin with a shapely robotic leg, proved he could teach even the best Rugby World Cup kickers some pointers when he took on the sporting legend in Auckland on Monday.
He powered ball after ball between the goal posts during the unusual technology showcase, designed to inspire more kids to pursue engineering.
And judging by the calls of "awesome" and "wow" from the young crowd as Robo Dan wound his super-sized kicking leg back and flung it forward, the punters were impressed.
Massey University Associate Professor Johan Potgieter's creation came up against a full-body robot, also from Massey that, in his creator's words, "decided now was the best time to have a mid-life crisis".
"I'm furious with him. In fact we're not talking," Dr Rory Flemmer said of Woderwick, which suffered a faulty valve moments into the kicking competition. The machine, so complex it could sense wind direction and "see" the goal posts, was "too bloody complex for his own good", he said.
The University of Canterbury also entered the aptly named Phoenix, which "rose from the ashes of Christchurch".
The contraption, a gas compressor and a generator linked up with "lots of duct tape and number eight wire", was the only machine able to pull off a drop kick.
But it was Robo Dan, with his muscular aluminium leg and kinematic design, that proved the most worthy match for Mehrtens.
"With a sexy leg and a smooth, fluid movement we were lucky not to hit the Sky Tower," Prof Potgieter said with a laugh.
"It's only fitting that we can give even the best human competitor a run for his money."
Mehrtens, who took the challenge in his stride, cleared all but one goal-kicking attempt, later trying to claim he'd missed on purpose.
"I was feeling sorry for my metal competitors so thought I'd give them a little leg up."
NZN