Prosthetics manufacturer Psyonic, maker of the Ability Hand, is collaborating with ABB Robotics to advance robotic gripping and dexterity. The companies are exploring how touch and motion data generated by users of prosthetic devices can be used to train robots using artificial intelligence (AI) to perform delicate, variable tasks that have traditionally been difficult to automate.
“Human dexterity and the instinctive understanding of how to handle different objects is one of the most difficult things to replicate in industrial-grade robotics, but it’s a fundamental need for truly autonomous and versatile robots,” said Marc Segura, president, ABB Robotics. “As we develop the next generation of physical AI, robots will learn and understand the world as we do. This collaboration with Psyonic will help to close the long-standing gap between human and robot dexterity, opening up new possibilities for a wide range of industries.”
Grasping and dexterity are central to ABB Robotic’s vision for robots that can sense, reason, move, and handle objects with precision in dynamic environments. They are also critical to advancing physical AI in industry: robotic systems that can learn from real-world interaction and apply that intelligence with industrial-grade reliability. The collaboration will explore new applications across numerous industries, including automotive, aerospace, packaging and logistics, and life sciences.
“Dexterous manipulation is ultimately a data challenge as much as a hardware challenge,” said Aadeel Akhtar, PhD, founder and CEO, Psyonic. “By using the same Ability Hand on people and on robots, we can capture high-fidelity real-world data on movement, contact, and grip force, then use that to train robotic systems more effectively. Integrating with ABB Robotics’ robotics platform allows us to expand into more environments and unlock the level of dexterity needed to take on the hardest challenges in automation.”
