Humanoid robotics company 1X has unveiled a new tendon-driven robotic hand for its NEO humanoid platform, saying the design brings near human-level dexterity, strength and tactile sensing to the robot while enabling more advanced AI-driven manipulation capabilities.
The company says the new hand features 25 degrees of freedom (DoF), including 22 fully actuated joints in the fingers and palm and three at the wrist, with force-controlled, backdrivable joints designed to improve both manipulation and tactile perception.
According to 1X, the new hardware is intended to remove what it describes as the “hardware ceiling” that has limited humanoid robot capabilities, allowing AI models to take advantage of more human-like manipulation.
The company said the hands are capable of tasks including assembling LEGO models, picking up screws and coins, installing light bulbs, using screwdrivers, rotating objects in-hand, zipping jackets, sorting grapes, pouring tea, plugging in USB-C connectors and communicating using sign language.
The hands use tendon-driven actuation with gear ratios of approximately 5:1 to 15:1, enabling force transparency so external forces can be sensed directly through the joints.
The system also incorporates high-resolution tactile sensing capable of measuring pressure, contact location and shear forces across the fingers.
Designed for operation in real-world environments, the hands are rated to IP68 for water resistance and use food-safe materials, allowing the robot to operate in wet environments and wash its own hands.
The company says the design has undergone millions of test cycles and is intended for continuous operation while maintaining compliance and safety during contact with people and objects.
1X says the motors are housed in the robot’s forearm and drive proprietary tendons through the wrist, allowing the hands to deliver high grip forces while remaining lightweight and suitable for prolonged use.
The company also highlighted its vertically integrated approach, with motors, electronics, sensing systems, tendon mechanisms and software all developed in-house.
The company added that it has already established a dedicated production line for the hands and expects to manufacture up to 10,000 units during the year, supporting wider deployment of the NEO humanoid platform.
Bernt Børnich, CEO and founder of 1X, said: “Our goal was never a hand that just looks impressive on paper. These hands are the culmination of intensive engineering focused on making humanoids truly useful. We built them to match or surpass human capability across every dimension that matters.
“With these hands, NEO crosses a critical threshold. The robot can now do the things humans do with their hands, every day. This is what the industry has been waiting for.”
