Articles tagged with "robotic-hand"
Video: Engineers develop a robotic hand that can detach, crawl, and reattach
Engineers at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL) have developed a novel robotic hand capable of detaching from its arm, crawling independently, grasping multiple objects sequentially, and reattaching to its base. This robotic hand features a fully symmetrical design with four degrees of freedom (DOF) per finger, allowing it to grasp objects flexibly from any direction and use its fingers both for locomotion and manipulation. The hand’s symmetry enables finger pairings that act like dual thumbs, improving crawling efficiency, simplifying multi-object handling, and reducing the complexity of movements compared to traditional robotic or human-like hands. The robotic hand’s design integrates mechanical innovation with algorithmic planning, optimizing finger number, length, placement, and roles to balance grasping performance and crawling speed. Using a genetic algorithm, the team identified configurations that maximize efficiency while considering actuator limits, motor size, and 3D printing constraints. The hand’s reversible fingers allow it to grasp objects from either side without repositioning
roboticsrobotic-handdexterous-manipulationmobile-manipulatorrobotic-arm3D-printingactuator-technologyI met a lot of weird robots at CES — here are the most memorable
At CES, robotics remained a major highlight, showcasing both cutting-edge developments and entertaining demonstrations that hint at future commercial applications. Notably, Boston Dynamics introduced a production-ready humanoid robot, underscoring significant progress in the field. The event featured a variety of robots, from a ping-pong-playing bot by Sharpa designed to showcase its dexterous robotic hand, to humanoid boxing robots from a Chinese company that, despite some clumsy moments, captivated audiences with their lifelike movements. Dancing robots from Unitree, a prominent Chinese manufacturer with potential military ties, also drew attention, demonstrating impressive mobility and coordination. Other memorable robots included a convenience store clerk bot from Galbot, which used multi-modal large language models to interact with customers and retrieve selected items, reflecting real-world deployments in retail and assistance roles. Additionally, Dyna Robotics presented robotic arms capable of folding laundry efficiently, a longstanding challenge in commercial robotics, with established partnerships in hospitality and industrial sectors. Overall, the robots at CES provided
robotsroboticsCEShumanoid-robotsBoston-Dynamicsrobotic-handUnitreeHumanoid robot deals cards and builds paper windmill with nimble hands
At CES 2026, Singapore-based AI robotics company Sharpa unveiled its first full-body humanoid robot, North, designed for productivity-focused autonomy. North showcased impressive dexterity through live demonstrations, performing complex tasks such as playing ping-pong with a 0.02-second reaction time, dealing cards using real-time vision and language inputs, and assembling a paper windmill—a task involving over 30 steps and handling diverse materials like thin, deformable paper, plastic pins, and sticks. These feats highlight North’s ability to adapt its grasp and manipulate objects with human-like precision, enabled by Sharpa’s proprietary robotic hand, SharpaWave, which features human-scale size, 22 degrees of freedom, and thousands of tactile sensors per fingertip. Sharpa’s Vice President Alicia Veneziani emphasized that North’s dexterity stems from the anthropomorphic design of its hand, the integration of tactile feedback, and advanced AI training that allows the robot to adjust to different interaction scenarios. The company aims to move
robothumanoid-robotrobotic-handAI-roboticsdexterous-manipulationtactile-sensorsrobotics-technology'World’s most advanced' robotic hand pairs vision and touch sensing
Sharpa Robotics has advanced its flagship robotic hand, SharpaWave, into mass production, marking a significant milestone in the general-purpose robotics market. Headquartered in Singapore, the company has implemented a rolling production process supported by automated testing systems to ensure the durability and reliability of thousands of microscale gears, motors, and sensors within each hand. Initial shipments began in October, with a broader launch planned at CES 2026. SharpaWave is designed to match human hand size and dexterity while providing exceptional strength and precision, attracting early orders from global technology firms. The SharpaWave hand features 22 active degrees of freedom and integrates proprietary Dynamic Tactile Array technology, combining miniature cameras with over 1,000 tactile pixels per fingertip to deliver visuo-tactile sensing capable of detecting forces as small as 0.005 newtons. This enables six-dimensional force sensing for adaptive grip control and slip prevention, allowing the hand to manipulate both delicate and heavy objects intelligently. Sharpa Robotics
roboticsrobotic-handtactile-sensingautomationdexterous-manipulationsensorsindustrial-robotsVideo: 'Backdrivable' robot hand spins nut on bolt at incredible speed
Kyber Labs, a New York-based robotics company, has introduced a robotic hand capable of spinning a nut on a bolt at exceptionally high speeds in real time, without any video edits. This performance is enabled by the hand’s fully backdrivable and torque-transparent actuators, which allow it to naturally adapt to the nut’s movement. The backdrivability means external forces can move the robot’s fingers, and the system can infer torque from motor current, eliminating the need for complex tactile sensors. This design philosophy aims to simplify manipulation tasks, making control software and AI learning systems more reliable and efficient by offloading variability handling to the hardware itself. The robotic hand mimics human-like mechanical compliance and precision, enabling fluid and dexterous manipulation suitable for delicate tasks at scale. Kyber Labs emphasizes that general-purpose robotic hands remain a significant bottleneck in advancing robot capabilities, particularly for complex assembly and manufacturing operations. Their platform includes dual arms with human-like hands designed specifically for embodied AI, facilitating large
robotroboticsrobotic-handbackdrivable-actuatorAI-based-controlrobotic-manipulationdexterous-manipulationVideo: Clone demos creepy humanoid hand with human-level grip strength and speed
Polish robotics company Clone Robotics has demonstrated a highly advanced anthropomorphic robotic hand controlled by their new Neural Joint V2 Controller. The hand features 27 degrees of freedom and achieves human-level grip strength and speed, closely mirroring natural finger movements with minimal latency. Unlike earlier versions that used hardcoded controls, the V2 Controller employs a neural network trained on extensive human hand motion data, enabling it to interpret and replicate complex, fast, and unpredictable movements in real time. The hand’s design incorporates carbon-fiber bones and ligament-style tethers with synthetic water-powered artificial muscles called Myofibers, which generate up to 1 kilogram of grip force and have demonstrated exceptional durability through 650,000 test cycles without fatigue. This robotic hand is a critical component of Clone Robotics’ broader Clone Alpha project, which aims to create a biomimetic humanoid robot with natural human-like motion. The Alpha robot integrates a polymer skeleton, Myofiber muscles, and a compact hydraulic vascular system to replicate human
roboticshumanoid-robotrobotic-handneural-network-controlartificial-musclesanthropomorphic-roboticselectro-hydraulic-actuatorsAgile Robots launches Agile ONE industrial humanoid - The Robot Report
Agile Robots SE, a Munich-based company, has launched Agile ONE, its first industrial humanoid robot designed to work safely and efficiently alongside humans and other systems in structured industrial environments. Agile ONE features intuitive human-robot interaction (HRI) capabilities, including responsive eye rings, proximity sensors, a rearview camera, and a chest display for real-time information. Its dexterous five-fingered hands, equipped with multiple sensors for force and tactile feedback, enable precise manipulation tasks such as handling tiny screws or operating power tools. The robot embodies Agile Robots’ vision of “physical AI,” combining intelligence, autonomy, and flexibility to perceive, understand, and act in the physical world. A key differentiator for Agile ONE is its layered AI approach, described as a “data pyramid” that integrates real-world teleoperation and field data, physical simulation data, and visual data from videos and images. Its cognitive architecture includes three layers: slow thinking for task planning, fast thinking for dynamic individual actions,
robothumanoid-robotindustrial-automationAI-roboticshuman-robot-interactionrobotic-handautonomous-robotsSocial media round-up from #IROS2025 - Robohub
The 2025 IEEE/RSJ International Conference on Intelligent Robots and Systems (IROS 2025) was held from October 19 to 25, 2025, in Hangzhou, China. The event featured a comprehensive program including plenary and keynote talks, workshops, tutorials, forums, competitions, and debates. An exhibition allowed companies and institutions to showcase their latest robotics hardware and software innovations. Social media coverage highlighted various activities and demonstrations, such as a modular legged wheel design by DirectDriveTech and a live demo of the G1 robot by Unitree Robotics. Notably, 16-year-old Jared K. Lepora was recognized as the youngest presenter, demonstrating a dexterous robotic hand in the Educational and Emotional Robots session. The conference brought together leading experts in robotics, AI, and intelligent systems to explore advancements at the human-robotics frontier. Highlights included discussions on integrating specialist and generalist approaches to physical AI and insights from conference chairs Professor Hesheng Wang and
roboticsintelligent-systemsAIrobotic-handmodular-robotsIROS2025physical-AIUK teen student's robot hand performs like research models
A 16-year-old student from Bristol, Jared K. Lepora, has developed an anthropomorphic robotic hand made entirely from LEGO parts that performs comparably to professional research models. Named the Educational SoftHand-A, this four-fingered, tendon-driven robotic hand mimics natural human hand motion using off-the-shelf LEGO MINDSTORMS components and two small motors. The design is inspired by the Pisa/IIT SoftHand, a leading soft-robotics model, and adapts its single tendon system concept with LEGO beams, rods, gears, and over 100 plastic bearings. Bench tests show the LEGO SoftHand achieves about 90% of the grip force of a professional 3D-printed SoftHand and can complete open-close cycles in roughly one second, with fingers that adapt automatically to different object shapes. The project, guided by Jared’s father Dr. Nathan F. Lepora of the University of Bristol, is openly accessible with build instructions and files available online, making it
roboticsrobotic-handsoft-roboticseducational-roboticsLego-Mindstormsadaptive-graspingopen-source-roboticsVideo: Robotic hand with 16 joints perfectly opens soda can like humans
TetherIA, a California-based company, has developed the Aero Hand Open, an open-source, tendon-driven robotic hand designed to tackle the challenge of dexterous manipulation in robotics. Featuring 16 joints, the robotic hand can perform precise tasks such as grasping small objects, picking up an iPhone, and even opening a soda can with human-like dexterity. Its underactuated design uses cables running through the fingers instead of individual motors for each joint, allowing the hand to conform naturally to various object shapes. This compliance enhances its ability to handle everyday objects with precision and adaptability. The Aero Hand Open emphasizes simplicity, affordability, and accessibility. It is fully 3D-printable, lightweight, and integrates open-source ESP32-based firmware and ROS2-compatible control software, making it suitable for research and educational use. Priced at $314 for a complete kit, it offers a modular platform that can be assembled with standard equipment and off-the-shelf components. Additionally, the system includes a
robotroboticsrobotic-handdexterous-manipulationopen-source-roboticstendon-driven-actuation3D-printingWatch: South Korean robotic hand performs a moonwalk with its fingers
South Korea’s Hanyang University showcased a playful yet technically impressive demonstration of robotic dexterity by having the Tesollo DG-5F robotic hand perform a finger-based moonwalk to Michael Jackson’s "Smooth Criminal." This 40-second video, created by PhD candidate Ji-Hun Bae at the RoCogMan Lab, serves as an academic parody inspired by a similar moonwalk performed by KAIST’s humanoid robot using legs. The demonstration highlights the robotic hand’s fine motor control and joint coordination, emphasizing that not only humanoid robots but also robotic fingers can exhibit dance-like movements. The Tesollo DG-5F is a fully actuated, five-finger anthropomorphic robotic hand with 20 degrees of freedom, designed for human-like precision. Each joint is independently controlled, enabling complex, coordinated movements and various grip patterns such as pinch, power, and precision grips. Equipped optionally with high-precision force sensors, the DG-5F provides tactile feedback essential for adaptive force control and slip
roboticsrobotic-handdexterous-manipulationanthropomorphic-robotTESOLLO-DG-5Frobotic-cognitionmedical-roboticsJapan trials giant robot hand to scoop buried items at quake sites
Researchers from Japan and Switzerland have developed a giant robotic hand integrated with AI-driven excavation technology to enhance disaster recovery efforts, particularly in earthquake-affected areas. The project, named CAFE (Collaborative AI Field Robot Everywhere), is a five-year collaboration involving Kumagai Gumi, Tsukuba University, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and ETH Zurich, funded by Japan’s Cabinet Office and the Japan Science and Technology Agency. The robotic hand uses pneumatic actuators and fingertip sensors to adapt its grip dynamically, handling both fragile and heavy objects up to 3 tons. Demonstrated in Tsukuba City, it successfully manipulated diverse debris types, showcasing its potential to operate in hazardous, unstable environments inaccessible to traditional heavy machinery. A key challenge addressed by the project is the formation of natural dams caused by landslides, which pose flooding risks to communities. The CAFE system combines the robotic hand with AI excavation software developed through Sim-to-Real reinforcement learning, enabling the machine to learn and adapt
roboticsdisaster-recoveryAIsoft-roboticspneumatic-actuatorsrobotic-handexcavation-technologyNew robot grip twists, turns, and rolls objects in tight spaces
Yale University researchers have developed a novel robotic hand, called the Sphinx, that significantly enhances a robot’s ability to grasp and rotate objects in tight, complex spaces. Unlike traditional robotic wrists that rely on three degrees of freedom (roll, pitch, yaw) but are mechanically complex and positioned away from the object, the Sphinx integrates these motions into a single spherical mechanism. This design allows the robot to perform precise maneuvers—such as twisting open jars, turning door handles, or screwing in light bulbs—more efficiently and closer to the object without moving the entire arm. Notably, the mechanism operates without sensors or cameras, relying purely on its mechanical design to achieve smooth, multi-axis rotations. This innovation addresses a major limitation in robotics by enabling machines to work effectively in cluttered or unpredictable environments, bridging the gap between industrial robots and adaptable robots suitable for homes, hospitals, and disaster zones. The Sphinx’s ability to handle delicate and complex tasks in confined spaces represents a significant step
roboticsrobotic-handrobot-gripYale-Universityrobotic-manipulationautomationrobotic-innovationSensing robot hand flicks, flinches, and grips like a human
A student team at USC Viterbi, led by assistant professor Daniel Seita, has developed the MOTIF Hand, a robotic hand designed to mimic human touch by sensing multiple modalities such as pressure, temperature, and motion. Unlike traditional robot grippers, the MOTIF Hand integrates a thermal camera embedded in its palm to detect heat without physical contact, allowing it to "flinch" away from hot surfaces much like a human would. It also uses force sensors in its fingers to apply precise pressure and can gauge the weight or contents of objects by flicking or shaking them, replicating human instincts in object interaction. The MOTIF Hand builds on previous open-source designs like Carnegie Mellon’s LEAP Hand, with the USC team also committing to open-source their work to foster collaboration in the robotics community. The developers emphasize that this platform is intended as a foundation for further research, aiming to make advanced tactile sensing accessible to more teams. Their findings have been published on Arxiv, highlighting a significant step toward
robotrobotic-handsensorshuman-robot-interactiontactile-sensingthermal-detectionrobotics-researchTesollo to present humanoid robot hand at AI for Good Global Summit 2025 - The Robot Report
Tesollo Inc., a South Korean robotics company, will showcase its advanced humanoid robotic hand, the Delto Gripper DG-5F, at the AI for Good Global Summit 2025 in Geneva. The DG-5F features 20 degrees of independent actuation, closely mimicking the dexterity and motion of a human hand, enabling complex object manipulation, tool use, and fine assembly. Designed to replicate natural human motion, the gripper supports multiple grip modes (pinch, power, precision) and can be equipped with high-precision force sensors for real-time feedback, slip prevention, and adaptive grasp control. Its size and structure resemble an adult male hand, making it adaptable for real-world industrial and service applications. Built from lightweight, high-strength materials, the DG-5F is durable enough for repetitive, high-speed operations and is compatible with ROS 2 for easy integration with various robotic platforms. Tesollo envisions its robotic hand being used in diverse fields such as AI-driven
roboticshumanoid-robotrobotic-handAI-roboticsindustrial-automationprecision-manipulationROS-2-integration