Boston Dynamics unveils a four-finger, 13-DoF hand for Atlas

Boston Dynamics has published a blog post introducing a new hand for Atlas, its humanoid for industrial work. The company describes a four-finger design: a thumb with four degrees of freedom and three on each of the other fingers, giving 13 directly actuated degrees of freedom per hand [1]. A weekly press roundup of the same period describes the same design [2].

The company says it left out a pinky because an extra dexterous finger was not worth three more actuators and the added cost, volume and failure risk [1]. Pressure sensors across the fingertips and palm provide tactile feedback [1]. The post targets in-hand reorientation, pinch and tripod grasps, and holding tools, and it describes its sim-to-real transfer results as initial [1].

What changed in our database

• Atlas record: the per-hand degree-of-freedom count changes from unknown to 13, citing the company post.
• Atlas record: the total degree-of-freedom figure is unchanged, because the sales sheet does not break out the hands.
• Atlas record: price and availability are unchanged, since the company gives no shipping timeline or pricing for the hand.

The post does not say which Atlas configuration will carry the new hand, so the per-hand figure is recorded with that caveat. The company calls the hand 'a long-term bet' [1], and the results it shows are early.