Sanctuary AI has demonstrated in-hand manipulation capabilities aimed at enhancing the dexterity of general-purpose robots. The hands, featuring 21 degrees of freedom (DOF), are designed for industrial tasks requiring precision and fine manipulation. The company attributes the enhanced performance of its robotic hands to a proprietary hydraulic actuation system that incorporates miniaturized hydraulic valves.
This approach reportedly delivers greater power density compared to cable and electromechanical systems, offering improvements in speed, strength, controllability, durability, and heat management. Sanctuary AI claims its hydraulic valve actuators have completed over two billion testing cycles without degradation or leakage.
James Wells, the company’s interim CEO and Chief Commercial Officer, described the development as a significant step toward enabling general-purpose humanoid robots to perform complex tasks. He noted that such dexterity expands the potential applications of humanoid robots across various industries. The dexterous capabilities are integrated into the company’s general-purpose robot, Phoenix, and the AI control system, Carbon. Data from the robotic hand’s performance aids in training Carbon for better interaction with real-world environments. The modular design of these technologies is intended to support future integrations with other robotic platforms.
