1X has unveiled a new robotic hand for its NEO humanoid platform with 25 degrees of freedom and force-controlled, backdrivable joints designed to deliver near human-level dexterity and tactile sensing.
The company says the design removes technical limitations that have prevented humanoid robots from performing everyday manipulation tasks like assembling objects, using tools, and pouring liquids.
1X plans to manufacture up to 10,000 units during the year to support wider deployment of the NEO platform.
What happened
Humanoid robotics company 1X has unveiled a new tendon-driven robotic hand for its NEO platform featuring 25 degrees of freedom—22 fully actuated joints in the fingers and palm and three at the wrist—with force-controlled, backdrivable joints designed for improved manipulation and tactile perception.
Why it matters
The company says the new hardware removes the "hardware ceiling" that has limited humanoid robot capabilities, allowing AI models to leverage more human-like manipulation. The hands are capable of tasks including assembling LEGO models, picking up coins and screws, installing light bulbs, using screwdrivers, zipping jackets, sorting grapes, pouring tea, plugging in USB-C connectors, and communicating using sign language—demonstrations that the robot can handle everyday human tasks.
What to watch
1X has established a dedicated production line and expects to manufacture up to 10,000 units during the year. The hands use tendon-driven actuation with gear ratios of approximately 5:1 to 15:1, are rated IP68 for water resistance, and incorporate high-resolution tactile sensing capable of measuring pressure, contact location, and shear forces.
Ask the AI about this article →
1X's new hand represents a significant shift in addressing what the company frames as a fundamental constraint in humanoid robotics: the gap between available hardware and the demands of real-world manipulation tasks. The design combines 25 degrees of freedom with force-controlled, backdrivable joints—a combination intended to enable both the precision and the tactile feedback that humans take for granted. By housing motors in the forearm and routing proprietary tendons through the wrist, 1X achieves high grip forces while keeping the hand itself lightweight and suitable for continuous use.
The company's emphasis on practical capability is reflected in the range of demonstrated tasks, from LEGO assembly and tool use to delicate work like sorting grapes. The addition of high-resolution tactile sensing—measuring pressure, contact location, and shear forces—suggests that the hand is designed not only to grasp and move objects but to sense and respond to them in ways that the company believes will unlock more sophisticated AI-driven manipulation. The vertically integrated approach, with motors, electronics, sensing, and software all developed in-house, may allow 1X to iterate and refine the system more rapidly than a design reliant on external components.
For example, today's edition would include:
AI-summarized, only the topics you pick — one digest a day via Email, Slack, or Discord.
Free · takes 30 seconds · unsubscribe anytimeWhat is AIToday? →
Ask AI anything about this article. Q&As are published on this page for other readers too.
K-Safety Expo 2026 will be held at BEXCO in Busan from September 2–4, featuring AI, robots, sensors, and conne…
Skild AI has introduced S1, its flagship robot foundation model, which lets robots learn new, complex tasks by…
BHP, the world's largest mining company by market capitalization, has deployed AI across its operations
John Deere announced a three-year, $10 million research and development partnership with ag-tech company Reser…
On July 16, 2026, NVIDIA announced that 22 Japanese companies and organizations have expressed intent to join…
Panasonic HD has established a new AI and robotics research and development division, and CAIO Sakaba is leadi…
