Robot hand
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A robot's hand, which grips and handles objects with several fingers like a human hand.
Overview
The end of a factory robot usually carries a two-pronged claw (a gripper). A claw is sturdy and cheap, but it only picks up objects of a set shape well. A robot hand moves several fingers separately, and is built to do delicate jobs such as holding an egg gently, turning a screwdriver and folding clothes.
The hand is counted among the hardest parts of a robot to build. Many small joints and motors have to fit inside a narrow palm, and it needs a sense of touch to feel how hard it is gripping. Since it is used so often, it wears out quickly, so making it last is also a challenge.
An everyday example
Think of picking up a bean with chopsticks. It is easy for a person, but if you use even slightly the wrong force, the bean shoots away. This is the kind of difficulty a robot hand has to overcome.
Why it matters
Videos of robots walking and running have become common, but most real work is done by hand. How delicate the hand is has become the measure of whether a humanoid is useful in factories and homes.