Data-Driven Inverse Design Enables a Dexterous Hand with Human-Comparable Dynamic Performance in Structured Tasks

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Authors: Lei Jiang, Kaixin Lan, Xianwei Liu, Chaojie Fu, Yongbin Jin, Hongtao Wang
Cited by: 1
References: 24

Abstract

The design of dexterous robotic hands has long been constrained by empirical paradigms that struggle to balance anthropomorphic fidelity with dynamic performance. This study aims to establish a systematic methodology that bridges this gap through data-driven inverse design. We construct a quantitative association map between design variables and performance metrics using a comprehensive dataset of existing dexterous hands, then apply this map to translate explicit high-frequency dynamic targets into an optimized hardware configuration. The analysis reveals that the dominant principles for high-speed performance-tendon-driven transmission, proximal actuation, and lightweight rigid structures-closely mirror the biomechanical architecture of the human hand. Guided by this convergence, we develop the Beyond Hand, a 20-degree-of-freedom (DoF) anthropomorphic hand that preserves human-scale dimensions. Standardized frequency-response tests across all 15 joints show magnitude attenuation below 3 dB at 14 Hz and cutoff frequencies clustered around 10 Hz. In rhythm-game and Tetris-style manipulation tasks, the hand maintains over 90% accuracy at actuation frequencies up to 12 Hz. These results demonstrate that a performance-driven pathway can systematically elevate the dynamic capabilities of humanoid dexterous hands, offering a scalable framework for biomimetic robotic design.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Motor Control and Adaptation Robot Manipulation and Learning Muscle activation and electromyography studies

Publication details

Journal / source
Biomimetics
Publisher
MDPI AG
Volume
11
Issue
6
Pages
434–434
Publication date
18 June 2026
Language
EN