Honda Unveils Dexterous Robotic Hand to Automate Factory Work

Honda Motor Co. has developed a dexterous, multi-fingered robotic hand, marking a new industrial direction for its robotics program after retiring the ASIMO humanoid robot.

The system combines fine motor control with high strength, allowing a single robot to handle delicate tasks like inserting a 1.6-millimeter screw or lifting up to five kilograms.

Equipped with tactile sensors, the four-fingered hand detects object shapes and orients components for complex assembly operations, including connecting wiring harnesses and sorting factory parts.

Takahide Yoshiike, Executive Chief Engineer at Honda R&D, stated:

"We've achieved a remarkable level of smoothness, even in very delicate movements."

Honda developed a patented finger drive mechanism that provides structural flexibility and durability without relying on conventional wire systems, allowing the mechanism to bend efficiently under force.

The project marks a major strategic pivot following ASIMO's retirement in 2022, which was phased out over safety concerns regarding unexpected human physical interactions.

Addressing public curiosity regarding the company's silent shift toward industrial end-effectors, Yoshiike added:

"People kept asking, 'What happened to Honda's robots?' Creating new value meant taking on challenges without knowing exactly how we'd solve them. It was difficult, but we kept at it. Our immediate goal is to bring the best solution we can to the market using the technology we have today."

Honda plans full-scale testing at its Yorii factory in Saitama Prefecture, aiming to commercialize the technology in the early 2030s while launching a joint Physical AI research initiative with RIKEN in fiscal 2026.