Core Insights - The production of industrial and service robots in China has seen significant growth, with industrial robots increasing by 29.8% and service robots by 16.3% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2025 [1] - The development of dexterous hands is crucial for the advancement of humanoid robots, but the industry is currently facing significant technical challenges, particularly highlighted by Tesla's Optimus robot [1][2] - The industry is characterized as being in the "1.0 stage," where most dexterous hand products are primarily used for educational and research purposes, lacking practical application capabilities [2][11] Industry Status - The current state of the dexterous hand industry is defined as "1.0 stage," focusing on educational and research applications rather than practical, long-term usage [2] - Most domestic companies in the dexterous hand sector are still in this early stage, primarily serving universities and research institutions [2] - Tesla's challenges with dexterous hands are indicative of broader industry issues, but the company is not considered to be falling behind [2] Challenges in Development - The transition from "1.0 stage" to "2.0 stage" involves overcoming two main challenges: the balance between extreme dexterity and industrial practicality, and the gap between advanced designs and existing supply chain capabilities [3] - The pursuit of both dexterity and practicality creates a conflict, as increasing degrees of freedom in design lead to higher costs and complexity [3] - Finding a supply chain capable of mass-producing high-quality components at low costs remains a significant hurdle [3] Core Capabilities - The core capabilities of robots are divided into three parts: mobility, perception and interaction, and operational capability, with the latter being the most challenging to achieve [4] - Operational capability is further divided into specialized operations for specific tasks and general operational capabilities that can adapt to diverse environments [5] - Dexterous hands are essential for achieving general operational capabilities, which are currently underutilized in the industry [5] Technical Approaches - There are two main technical approaches for dexterous hands: rigid drive and flexible drive, with the latter being more complex but offering greater adaptability [6][8] - Rigid drive systems are simpler and more straightforward, making them suitable for rapid development in research-focused projects [6] - Flexible drive systems, like those used in Tesla's Optimus, provide better adaptability and shock absorption, which are critical for practical applications [8] Domestic Advantages - China's dexterous hand industry benefits from a robust and responsive supply chain, particularly in micro-motors, new materials, and high-precision sensors [9] - The rapid development of AI algorithms and a diverse technical ecosystem contribute to the industry's vitality [10] - The rich variety of application scenarios in China, including manufacturing, logistics, and services, provides a unique testing ground for dexterous hand technologies [10] Future Trends - The industry is expected to focus on practical applications and the development of diverse product lines rather than a single "universal hand" [11][12] - Future products will likely be tailored to specific applications, such as high-load industrial assembly or low-cost logistics sorting [12] - Building a combined hardware and software ecosystem is crucial for the successful integration of dexterous hands into various applications [12]
专访中科硅纪创始人王鹏:灵巧手仍处于“能动”的阶段,距离“能用、好用、持久用”还有巨大鸿沟