For decades, industrial robots have relied on simple claw-like grippers to do their jobs. They’re fast and strong, but nowhere near as versatile as a human hand. Mimic Robotics wants to change that with the M1 Robotic Hand, a robotic hand designed to bring human-like dexterity to factory automation.
With five fingers, a fully opposable thumb, and joints that move much like our own, the M1 can learn new tasks by watching humans perform them. That makes it a great fit for AI-powered automation, especially for jobs that require precision instead of brute force.
It’s also surprisingly versatile. The M1 is strong enough to lift objects weighing up to 25 kg (55 lbs), yet sensitive enough to detect something as light as 50 grams. In other words, it can handle heavy parts one moment and delicate objects the next without crushing them.
If you’ve ever wondered when robots would finally get hands that are as useful as the rest of their bodies, this might be one of the biggest steps in that direction. Just don’t teach it to give a thumbs-up after replacing all of us.