1X unveils hands with 25 degrees of freedom for the NEO robot

1X has unveiled a new robotic arm for its humanoid robot NEO. The developers claim that the tendon-driven design provides near-human dexterity, strength and tactile perception.

25 degrees of freedom

The new product has 25 degrees of freedom. Of these, 22 fully controllable joints are in the fingers and palm, and three more are in the wrist. The joints are strong, with reversible movement - this improves both manipulation and touch.

According to 1X, the new hardware is designed to remove the “hardware ceiling” that previously held back the capabilities of humanoids. AI models will now be able to use more natural, human-like movements.

What can these hands do?

The list of features is impressive:

Collect LEGO

Picking up screws and coins

Screw in light bulbs

Use a screwdriver

Turn objects over in palms

Button up jackets

Sort grapes

Spill tea

Plug in USB-C

Communicate in sign language

Cable drive and tactile sensors

The drive is cable, with gear ratios from 5:1 to 15:1. Thanks to this, external forces are felt directly through the joints - the system is transparent to force influence.

High-resolution tactile sensors are built into the design. They measure pressure, point of contact and shear forces along the entire length of the fingers.

Protection and safety

Hands are designed for real conditions. Degree of protection - IP68, materials - food grade. The robot can work in wet environments and even wash its hands on its own.

The developers say: the design has passed millions of test cycles and is designed for continuous operation. At the same time, it remains safe in contact with people and objects.

Vertical integration and production

The motors are hidden in the robot's forearm. They operate the company's own cables through the wrist. The hands are light, the grip is strong, and the resource is sufficient for long work.

1X emphasized: this is completely vertical integration. Motors, electronics, sensors, cable mechanisms and software - everything was developed within the company.

The hand production line has already been launched. This year they plan to release up to 10,000 pieces - this will ensure mass deployment of the NEO platform.

CEO comment

Bernt Bernich, CEO and founder of 1X, said:

“Our goal has never been to have a hand that looks impressive only on paper. These arms are the result of intensive engineering work aimed at making humanoids truly useful. We've built them to exceed, or at least equal, human performance in every significant way.

With these hands, NEO crosses a critical threshold. Now a robot can do what people do with their hands every day. This is what the entire industry has been waiting for."