Wuji Hand 2: Robotic Hand With Natural Human Movement
Wuji Hand 2 is a second-generation robotic hand with 20 degrees of freedom, embedding tiny motors inside each finger and improving transmission efficiency by 20% over the original design.
Photo source:
humanoidsdaily
Rethinking How Robots Move Their Hands
Most advanced robotic hands use a design
similar to puppeteers - they place motors in the forearm and connect them to
fingers through cables and tendons. This approach works but introduces delays,
calibration problems, and challenges that make robots behave differently in the
real world than in computer simulations. Wuji Technology took the opposite
approach with the original Wuji Hand, and the new Wuji Hand 2 refines this
unconventional design even further.
Instead of remote motors pulling cables, the
Wuji Hand 2 embeds tiny motors directly inside each finger segment. This means
each finger essentially functions as its own independent robot, with four
joints that move completely independently. The result is movement that feels
more naturally human-like, with precision that traditional cable-driven hands
struggle to achieve.
Engineering Improvements in Generation 2
The upgraded Wuji Hand 2 improves on the
original design in several mechanical ways. Transmission efficiency - how
effectively movement transfers from motors to joints - increases by 20 percent
compared to the first generation. Engineers accomplished this through tighter
gear alignment and specialized lubrication designed to reduce friction
throughout the system. The hand also minimizes something called
"backlash," which is the tiny gap that occurs in mechanical systems
where components change direction. Reducing backlash means smoother, more
responsive movement.
The back-drive torque - the resistance felt
when manually moving the hand - drops to an impressive 0.05 newtons per meter.
This low resistance enables the hand to respond instantly to external forces,
crucial for delicate manipulation or working alongside humans. Weight remains
roughly equivalent to the original model, measuring about 20 centimeters long
and weighing under 900 grams, making it comparable in size and weight to an
actual human hand.
Strength and Dexterity Combined
Despite being lightweight, the Wuji Hand 2
delivers practical strength. Each finger can exert approximately 15 newtons of
force at the fingertip - enough to pick up a pen, manipulate small objects, or
perform intricate tasks. The hand maintains a static grip force of around 10
kilograms, and demonstrations show it performing a 5-kilogram pinch with just
two fingers. This combination of delicate control and genuine strength
distinguishes it from competitors focused solely on one or the other.
The hand performs thousands of cycles reliably,
with durability testing validating over one million internal cycles and factory
standards of 300,000 grasp cycles before shipping. This reliability matters for
research institutions and companies planning long-term deployments in
manufacturing or robotic systems.
Design Philosophy and Applications
The anthropomorphic form factor means the hand
resembles a human hand when clenched, with natural palm curvature and finger
proportions. This aesthetic similarity extends to functionality - the hand
moves and responds intuitively rather than appearing mechanically rigid. The
design focuses on what roboticists call the "sim-to-real gap" - the
difference between how robots behave in computer simulations versus actual
physical environments. Direct-drive actuation remains predictable and easy to simulate
accurately, reducing surprises when moving robotic systems from testing to
real-world deployment.
Applications span scientific research, humanoid
robot integration, and human-computer interaction studies. The pricing strategy
emphasizes practical accessibility, positioning it within reach of smaller
laboratories and robotics research groups rather than only major corporations.
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