Meet the new hand of the NEO robot. It does not just grab objects: it feels touch and notices when a thing starts to slip. On July 9 the company 1X presented the new hand.
How the hand is built
- 25 degrees of freedom: 22 are in the fingers and palm, three more in the wrist;
- the motors are in the forearm and move the fingers with cables;
- sensors on the fingers measure pressure and shear on contact with an object;
- the hand is waterproof to the IP68 standard: the robot can even wash its hands.
What it can do in the demonstration
In the demonstration the robot picks up a coin and a small screw, zips up a zipper, builds LEGO, screws in a light bulb and plugs in a USB-C cable. According to 1X, the positioning accuracy reaches two tenths of a millimeter.
What about price and timing
1X says it has already made hundreds of such hands and plans to install them on every NEO. This is the manufacturer's statement: there are no independent tests yet. The price and delivery dates of the home NEO are not specified in this company material.
Why this matters
For a home robot the hand decides almost everything: it determines whether the robot can help in the kitchen, fasten clothes or hand over a cup. Sensitivity to slipping and protection from water are a step toward a robot doing household tasks without fences and constant supervision. The way to mass home use has not yet been completed.
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Frequently asked questions
How many degrees of freedom does the NEO hand have?
25: 22 in the fingers and palm and 3 in the wrist.
Is the NEO hand waterproof?
Yes, according to 1X the hand is protected to the IP68 standard, so the robot can wash its hands.
How accurate is the NEO hand?
According to 1X the positioning accuracy reaches 0.2 mm. There are no independent checks yet.
