BioflexBot mimics key hand motions with two pneumatic inputs

An acupuncture needle rests between the fingers of a robot that does not look much like a human hand. Called BioflexBot, the prototype uses a coiled spring, a constraining shell and compressed air to pinch, rotate, hook and grasp with two pneumatic inputs.

That is the point of the design. Instead of rebuilding the intricate anatomy of a human hand, the researchers behind BioflexBot focused on reproducing its essential motions. The simpler structure is intended to reduce hardware and control complexity while preserving dexterity across different scales.

The demonstrations moved from delicate to demanding. BioflexBot manipulated an acupuncture needle and transported liquid with a pipette, then rotated a bottle cap almost four times more than a human hand’s capability. It also hooked a toolbox and goggles, and securely grasped objects of varying sizes, up to almost 13 times bigger than similar systems.

The researchers say the hand extends and contracts 3.5 times more than the human hand. That extra range was used to reach long distances, deliver objects in confined spaces and inspect the trailing edge of an aeroengine-blade mockup, alongside demonstrations of obstacle-avoiding grasping and a chemistry experiment.

So what changes in practice? A robotic hand built around motion rather than human anatomy could give humanoid robots a simpler end-effector for laboratory handling, industrial inspection and everyday manipulation. The team describes the design as offering high dexterity at extremely low costs, but it has not yet become a fully automated platform: that is the next stage the researchers plan to pursue.