Fri, 13 Feb 2026

Fri, 13 Feb 2026 Get a grip: Robotics firms struggle to develop hands

Developing a durable and affordable hand is one of the biggest challenges in robotics.
Researchers and companies are working on developing robotic hands that can mimic human dexterity, but achieving this goal has proven to be challenging. Shadow Robot, a UK-based company, has developed a robotic hand with cylindrical "forearms" and electric motors that pull on metal tendons to move fingers with precision. The hand is being used by researchers at universities and tech firms to develop new technologies for humanoid robots. However, creating a robust and affordable hand remains a significant challenge. Kinisi, a robotics start-up in Bristol, has developed a three-fingered hand but struggles with making it robust and affordable. The current prototype costs around £4,000 ($5,400) to make. Elon Musk identified creating a hand as one of the three most difficult problems facing makers of humanoid robotics. Tesla's upcoming humanoid robot, Optimus, is expected to have "the manual dexterity of a human," but experts say this goal may be 10 years away. Chinese firms like Wuji Technology are making progress by using motors in fingers and hands to drive movement. Their latest hand has four independently controlled joints and piezoelectric sensors that give it a sense of touch. Experts believe that giving robots a durable sense of touch will be a breakthrough for humanoid robots, but more work is needed in this area. Despite the challenges, there is reason to be optimistic, with billions of dollars being invested in humanoid robotics. Several other companies and researchers are working on developing robotic hands, including Kinisi's Bren Pierce and Professor Nathan Lepora from Bristol University. While progress has been made, achieving human-level dexterity remains a significant challenge for now.
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