Bloomberg Reports on China’s Push in Robot Hands

Bloomberg reported on China’s moves in the field of robot hands.

Robot hands are end-effectors that affect the practical utility of humanoids, and hand performance and cost are conditions for expanding their applications. By covering China’s moves, Bloomberg may signal that the focus of debate is shifting from entire robots to competition at the component level.

Bloomberg’s report differs somewhat from coverage of humanoids as a whole in that it focuses on the comparatively narrow area of robot hands. A hand’s grasping, tactile sensing, force control and durability directly affect the range of applications, making this an area where differences in maturity can readily determine a product’s practical utility. The issue, therefore, is not flashy appearances but whether components can be mass-produced at a given level of precision and cost. We have no related articles, so continuity with past coverage cannot be discussed. However, based on publicly available information, it is common to view a robot’s value as being determined not only by control of the main body but also by the integration of end-effectors, sensors and drive systems. Bloomberg’s report can also be placed in that context. Its coverage of China’s interest in “mastering” robot hands may suggest that the focus extends beyond competition in research and development to establishing supply chains and reducing costs. However, this excerpt alone does not show which approaches are superior or which companies are leading. Coverage that foregrounds robot production volumes or prices differs in significance from reporting that examines component performance. This report is closer to the latter, and the issues likely to arise include which applications improved hand performance could serve and how it could alter the boundary between existing industrial robots and humanoid robots. However, the technologies and examples in Bloomberg’s full article cannot be confirmed from this excerpt, so readers should consult the original source for details. Points to watch going forward include, first, how robot hands are controlled; second, whether information on mass production or pricing is available; and third, whether the applications are industrial or service-oriented. Until these points become clear, it is not possible to determine what China is seeking to “master,” including whether its emphasis is on technology development or commercialization.