A robotic hand is a mechanical device designed to emulate the function and dexterity of a human hand. Also known as “end effectors,” they are typically mounted on robotic arms and use motors, actuators, sensors and control systems, to grip, move and rotate objects.
Robotic Hand Definition
Robotic hands are mechanical devices that simulate the function and dexterity of human hands. Made up of actuators, sensors, and a control system, they are designed for tasks like gripping and manipulating objects, as well as and using tools.
Robotic hands are widely seen as the “holy grail” of robotics, with researchers striving to match the fine motor control and real-time responsiveness of human hands. Still, replicating capabilities that evolved over millions of years is no small feat, and the designs available today are “still insufficient,” according to Xi Chen, the CTO at core robotic component manufacturer Inspire-Robots.
But the field is advancing rapidly, with breakthroughs in sensors, artificial intelligence and materials enabling robotic hands to begin moving beyond basic industrial work to more complex tasks like delicate surgical procedures, intricate automotive assembly and even personal care. Eventually, they could completely revolutionize how work gets done.
“All tools in the human environment are designed for the human hand,” Chen told Built In. “If robots can mimic its structure, functionality and configuration, they can be applied quickly and cost-effectively without the need to alter our surroundings.”
What Is A Robotic Hand?
A robotic hand is a mechanical device that can grasp, manipulate and move objects with similar dexterity and functionality to a human hand. Some are fitted with five soft, rubber fingers to mimic a sense of touch, while others use claws or suction cups fitted with mechanisms like magnets, adhesives and vacuums to pick up objects. And some more otherworldly designs have three or seven digits with bidirectional flexibility, adding a layer of versatility to anthropomorphic concepts.
Although they don’t always resemble their human counterparts, robotic hands are designed to replicate — or even exceed — human capabilities, with newer models offering a larger range of motion than that of a natural hand.
“They can do things people can’t do,” Rob Knight, founder of the Robot Studio and creator of the Robot Nano Hand, an open source project, told Built In. “Why not make it superhuman?”
How Do Robotic Hands Work?
Creating a robotic hand involves mechanically replicating the components of the human hand — bones, joints, muscles, tendons and nerves. Rigid components make up the “skeletal” framework of the palm and fingers, providing the basic shape and structure of the device. And each phalange (or section of a finger) is connected by hinge or ball-and-socket “joints,” enabling a flexible range of motion and gripping capabilities. Actuators powered by pneumatic, hydraulic or electric motors deliver the force needed to bend, extend and rotate the fingers through tendon-like cables, which contract and relax the way muscles do.
For a robotic hand to actually “feel,” a network of sensors transmits data to-and-from a control system. This haptic feedback enables the device to adjust how it interacts with objects and its surroundings, simulating a sense of touch based on tactile, force, pressure and temperature readings. When a command is given to move a joint, the motor control uses sensors to measure its current position and then adjusts the joint to the desired position, explained Rich Walker, the director at the Shadow Robot Company.
“The sense of touch in the human hand is complex,” Walker told Built In, “and roboticists can only replicate some of it.” For example, a sophisticated sensor network can often detect where contact is happening and how much force is being applied, while simpler models might only be able to sense that contact is being made.
Today, robotic hands’ software is primarily driven by AI algorithms using machine learning, allowing the device to learn from experience and continually improve its efficiency and performance over time.
“You need [the robot] to reliably find an object, know what it is, pick it up and put it somewhere else,” Knight said. “If you can do that over and over again, thousands of thousands of times, then you've got the beginning of something really useful.”
Examples of Robotic Hands
Here are some of the top dexterous humanoid robotic hands currently in development.
The Shadow Dexterous Hand by Shadow Robot
The Shadow Dexterous Hand was developed by London-based company Shadow Robot. It has more than 120 sensors that enable tactile sensing capabilities, inspiring Google’s DeepMind robotics experiments and a number of European Union’s H2020 research programs. With 20 motorized joints and 24 degrees of freedom, the device is comparable to the human hand in size, shape and range of motion, making it well-suited for tasks designed and optimized for human hands.
“The more human-like the hands of a robot, the more the robot can do,” Walker said. And while simpler designs like the gripper are more common, “sometimes you really need four fingers and a thumb,” he added.
Festo’s BionicSoftHand
Encased in an elastic silicone skin is Festo’s BionicSoftHand, a pneumatically powered humanoid robot hand with 12 degrees of freedom, or independent movements. Each finger integrates inertial and tactile force sensors, along with flexible circuit boards wrapped in a 3D-knitted textile fabric. These components connect to a centralized motherboard and an inertial sensor system located inside the palm section, which are all powered by a valve terminal housed within the forearm. So far, the BionicSoftHand can manipulate objects in hand, and, given its soft build, the device is safe for direct human-to-robot collaboration.
Handcrawler by EPFL
Developed by EPFL, Handcrawler is a disembodied dexterous robot hand that can detach from a robot arm and crawl toward out-of-reach items. Inspired by the octopus, the device can simultaneously move itself across surfaces while holding objects in hand before reattaching to an arm. The device also features bidirectional flexibility, meaning that it can curl its fingers in either direction. Handcrawler shows promise in areas such as exploration and manipulation within confined spaces.
QB Robotics’ SoftHand Research
Developed by qb Robotics, the qb SoftHand Research is a mechanical robotic hand designed for simplicity and ease of use. With 19 degrees of freedom, its under-actuated design allows it to replicate 75 percent of human hand grips. Its mechanical intelligence enables it to naturally explore different grips without requiring sensor input. Instead, it relies on a magnetic rotary encoder for precise positional feedback, which guides its single-motor actuation system.
IH2 Azzurra by Prensilia
The IH2 Azzurra is a compact, self-contained robotic hand, meaning that all of its functional components — including actuators, sensors and control electronics — are embedded in its palm. Moving with 11 degrees of freedom, its integrated position and force sensors enable various grip types and precise object detection. The IH2 Azzurra’s versatile design shares compatibility with multiple robotic arm interfaces, making it an ideal tool for research projects and clinical studies, particularly those focused on human-machine interaction, prosthetics and amputee rehabilitation.
NASA’s Robonaut Hand
As part of the Robonaut project, NASA is developing mechanized anthropomorphic hands that are specifically designed to assist astronauts on space-bound missions. It comes with two separate sets of interchangeable digits: dexterous fingers, designed for object manipulation, and grasping fingers, to handle tools. Featuring 43 sensors and 14 degrees of freedom within a pressurized suit glove, the device is built with extreme temperature-resistant materials that meet outgassing restrictions, as well as brushless motors that can function for long periods of time within a vacuum.
Allegro Hand by Wonik Robotics
The Allegro Hand is an adaptive, four-digit model primarily designed for research and educational purposes. This portable, lightweight model is built with 16 degrees of freedom, and is capable of handling a five kilogram payload. It also comes with multiple ready-to-use grasping algorithms for object manipulation as well as real-time control.
How Can Robotic Hands Be Used?
The human form isn’t always the end-all, be-all solution. Sometimes, an extra set of grippers, pickers or claws can do the job more efficiently. According to the International Federation of Robots, there are more than four million robots operating in factories worldwide, with the most common being an articulated robot arm accompanied with some type of end effector.
Anthropomorphic robotic hands are still largely in the experimental phase, with the majority of projects being developed in research labs. But the first prototypes are poised to make a significant impact on several industries.
Manufacturing
Outside of the lab, robotic hands are most prevalent across the manufacturing sector, where they perform repetitive tasks with precision and efficiency. Generally, robotic systems can be programmed to replicate almost any task — from capping bottles and packaging to painting and assembly — ensuring consistent quality across product lines and fewer human errors.
Automotive
Robotic hands are widely used on automotive assembly lines for tasks like installing components, welding and quality control. At companies like Ford, line workers work alongside cobots to install heavy components, like shock absorbers, while full-body humanoids place sheet metal parts into special fixtures at BMW, reducing strain on human employees.
Healthcare
Robotic hands can assist medical teams in surgery and rehabilitation. Robotic-assisted surgeries, such as those performed with the da Vinci system, are known for delivering unparalleled precision and super-human dexterity, enabling minimally invasive procedures that reduce patient risks and recovery times. Additionally, exoskeletons, end effectors and bionic prosthetics help patients recover fine motor skills after events like strokes, offering targeted therapy with proven results in restoring motor function.
Agriculture
When attached to an agricultural bot, robotic hands are capable of harvesting delicate fruits and vegetables with the same precision and care as human workers, but at a much faster pace. This efficiency boosts productivity while maintaining the quality of the produce. Systems like the Vegebot, for example, use computer vision to identify and harvest lettuce without crushing it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can a robotic hand do?
Robotic hands are built to simulate human hands, allowing them to perform precise, dexterous tasks like gripping, manipulating objects and using tools.
How much does a robotic hand cost?
The cost of a robot hand is largely determined by its degrees of freedom, or the number of independent movements it can make. Each degree of freedom typically adds about $6,000 to $10,000 to the final price. Take for example the Shadow Dexterous Hand, a leading product in the market, which features 20 degrees of freedom at a cost of about $115,000.
Can you feel with a robotic hand?
Yes — but not in the traditional sense. Robotic hands are equipped with sensors that simulate touch by detecting pressure, texture, and temperature. This information is then processed and sent to a control system, initiating a feedback loop that informs how the device will respond to its environment, adjusting its grip or positioning accordingly.