Story perspectives

Robotic Hand Crawls to Retrieve Objects Independently

1/20/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) developed a robotic hand that can detach from its arm and crawl to retrieve objects.
The hand has identical fingers that move bidirectionally, enabling tasks beyond human limits.
It can pick up and carry items, aiding inspections and disaster response.
The study, published in Nature Communications, notes confined-space use where robots struggle.
Further research is needed to explore prosthetic applications.

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Story summary

Researchers at École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) developed a robotic hand that can detach from its arm and crawl to retrieve objects.
The hand has identical fingers that move bidirectionally, enabling tasks beyond human limits.
It can pick up and carry items, aiding inspections and disaster response.
The study, published in Nature Communications, notes confined-space use where robots struggle.
Further research is needed to explore prosthetic applications.