WATCH: Swiss scientists create a robot hand that can detach and crawl over to objects

A new robotic gripper showcased at the IEEE Conference challenges biological limits with new dexterity.

At the IEEE International Conference on Robotics and Automation held from September 23 to 26, 2024 in Rotterdam, Netherlands, EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne) researchers introduced an innovative robotic hand that redefines dexterous manipulation.

The accompanying video, titled Beyond Manual Dexterity, captured attention with its eerie yet impressive display of robotic capabilities.

The team’s work challenges traditional biologically inspired designs, questioning why robotic hands should be limited to human-like movement.

This exploration into more flexible and adaptable designs enables the gripper to grasp a wider variety of objects, even in cluttered environments. By pushing beyond the confines of human anatomy, the robotic hand can bend in unnatural ways and even detach to perform complex tasks.

While the hand’s unconventional design might unsettle viewers, it opens up new possibilities for robotic manipulation and dexterity.

This innovation has sparked intrigue within the robotics community, although questions remain about how the technology will scale for widespread use.