Researchers at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne have developed a robotic hand designed to address limitations associated with human-inspired manipulators, introducing a reversible palm structure, multiple identical fingers, and the ability to detach from a robotic arm to move independently.
The device was created by a team led by Aude Billard at EPFL’s Learning Algorithms and Systems Laboratory, in collaboration with researchers from the Computational Robot Design and Fabrication Lab. Unlike conventional robotic hands that mirror the asymmetric structure of the human hand, the EPFL system uses a symmetrical configuration that allows any pair of fingers to form an opposing grip. The design supports up to six silicone-tipped fingers mounted on multiple joints, enabling a range of grasping patterns without a fixed thumb position.
The hand’s reversible construction allows either side to function as a palm, enabling it to grasp objects from different orientations without repositioning the wrist or arm. In addition, the hand can detach entirely from its robotic arm and move autonomously across surfaces while maintaining a grip on objects, a capability the researchers describe as combining manipulation with locomotion.
Billard said the system was designed to address tasks that are difficult for both humans and traditional robots, such as reaching behind obstacles or handling multiple objects simultaneously. She noted that maintaining a stable grip while accessing objects positioned behind the hand often requires complex movements in conventional systems.
With five fingers, the hand can reproduce most common human grasp types. Configurations with additional fingers allow it to perform tasks typically requiring two hands, such as unscrewing large caps or using tools while stabilizing an object. According to the researchers, the modular finger arrangement places no fixed limit on the number of objects the hand can hold at once.
The design draws inspiration from biological systems in which limbs serve both locomotion and manipulation functions, such as octopus arms or insect appendages. The EPFL hand can crawl while carrying objects positioned on either side of its structure, extending its operational range beyond that of a fixed arm.
The researchers see potential applications in industrial automation, service robotics, and exploratory tasks in confined environments, where compactness and adaptability are required. They also suggest that the symmetrical, non-anthropomorphic design could inform future prosthetic or assistive devices intended to augment, rather than replicate, human capability.
