Hardware

Dexterous Hand

Dexterous Hand is a multi-fingered robotic end-effector with many actuated degrees of freedom, designed to approximate the grasping and in-hand manipulation versatility of the human hand. Notable examples include the Shadow Dexterous Hand with over 20 DOF, the Allegro Hand, and low-cost open-source designs such as the LEAP Hand. Key design tensions involve actuation (tendon-driven versus direct), tactile sensor integration, robustness, and cost.

Why it matters for physical AI

Anthropomorphic hands unlock tasks and tools designed for humans, and their affordability increasingly determines whether dexterous manipulation research translates into fleets. Hardware fragility and sensing density remain the main obstacles to deployment.