6D·

Dexterity decides the future of humanoids

👋 Hello dear getquin community,

First of all, I would like to thank you for your great support, including the many new followers. I am very pleased that my topics are so well received here and that the topic of humanoid robotics is getting so much attention. I would also like to thank everyone who has already contributed to my last posts, because your thoughts and discussions are really driving this exciting topic forward. @Multibagger
@Tenbagger2024

Today I'm focusing on a topic that Elon Musk recently described as the biggest challenge for humanoid robots: hands and gripping systems.

🔍 Focus: robot hands & gripping systems

I took a look at why hands are so complex for humanoid robots and read the research report from Nature Machine Intelligence under the microscope:

👉 Embedding high-resolution touch across robotic hands (Nature, 2025)

The study shows: Advances such as the F-TAC hand with high-resolution touch sensors are a huge step forward. But there are still 5 major challenges remain:

Tactile feedback / real "fingertip sensitivity" is often missing.

Mechanics vs. sensor integration / narrow design vs. flexible fingers.

Algorithms & data / Real-time control remains difficult.

Durability / Robot hands are often still too fragile.

Costs / Complex hands are extremely expensive.

🦾 Who is already working on this today?

Here is an overview of listed companies that play a role in the "hand problem":

⚙️ Actuators & Precision Gears

$6324 (-4.66%)
Harmonic Drive (JP) - Precision gears, almost standard in robot hands

$6481 (+0.85%)
THK (JP) - Linear guides & actuators

$6273 (+1.58%)
SMC Corp. (JP) - Mini actuators, pneumatics

👁️ Sensors & touch

$6861 (+1.06%)
Keyence (JP) - Force & vision sensors

$CGNX (+1.72%)
Cognex (US) - industrial image processing

$STM (-1.65%)
STMicroelectronics (FR/IT) - MEMS & pressure sensors

✋ Gripping systems & end effectors

$ABBN (+0.51%)
ABB (CH) - Industrial robots with gripping modules

$6954 (+1%)
Fanuc (JP) - Integrated grippers in robot platforms

$(Private, but important: Schunk, Festo - market leader for grippers)

🤖 End applications / developer of humanoid robots

$TSLA (+3.46%)
Tesla (US) - Optimus with focus on functional hands

$Neura Robotics (DE,private) - Cognitive humanoid robots with hand research

Agility Robotics (US, private) - humanoid robot "Digit" with gripping ability

Here is the full humanoid robot investment report

https://getqu.in/MBgIMg/

📌 Take-Away

Without functioning hands, humanoid robots remain limited. The combination of precision mechanics, sensor technology and control is the key and this is where there are exciting investment opportunities from Harmonic Drive to Tesla.

👉 Question for you: Do you think that in the next 5 years we will see robot hands that really achieve human dexterity or will this remain a dream of the future for even longer?

Image: © riko2022 - stock.adobe.com

16 Comments

Chris@Multibagger

I still don't believe that humanoid robots will be used on a large scale in the near future. That's why it's not an investment case for me at the moment.

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TradingHase@TradingHase

@Multibagger I'm with you on this statement, even though I'm sure there will be great progress.

When I was looking up table tennis training on my own, I discovered a video that I think was almost 10 years old. It showed a robotic hand with a TT racket being guided along a rail along the table. A camera system captured the incoming ball and the arm was designed with 3 joints. The hobbyist showed a video of loosely hit balls being returned cleanly and the system was to be further refined. But I didn't find anything new about the project.
Nevertheless, you could see what was already feasible for a DIY enthusiast.
When I see how "much" the Tesla robot can or cannot do, the development is quite sad.
As I said, still very exciting, but nothing for me to invest in.

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

@Multibagger @TradingHase
Of course, I understand the skepticism that you might get in too early and end up having to wait longer for the big breakthrough. Nevertheless, I see it a little differently and to each his own 😉 I am invested and interested in companies that are working on the research and development of humanoid robots and are consistently driving the topic forward. It remains a very exciting field for me. I even believe that the whole thing will develop faster than e-mobility, which, as we all know, took a few years to finally get going 😅🚗🤖

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TradingHase@TradingHase

@EpsEra 😉 If you want to look back at the beginnings and history of e-mobility, you have to look back almost 140 years, as the path was discarded for more than 100 years for various reasons.
Today's e-mobility is already very advanced, but will change and develop significantly over the next 5-10 years.

Only time will tell whether humanoid robotics will follow a similar path and it will remain extremely interesting.
Personally, I hope the best for your investments and will continue to read your reports with interest. 👍🏼

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

@TradingHase
E-mobility is definitely coming and so is robotics, but nobody knows how long it will take. The proponents of e-mobility also wanted to have the cars on the road immediately. In the end, it needed technology, economics and driver acceptance, otherwise customers would pull out. It will be similar with robots. If there is something clever, everyone is on board; if it seems risky or not very useful, people will remain cautious.

Thank you for your affirmation and the great exchange. I'm particularly keen on companies that take a multi-pronged approach and don't put all their eggs in one basket. That's what makes community fun, even if you don't always agree. 😃

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TradingHase@TradingHase

@EpsEra You don't have to be of the same opinion, but you do have to accept each other's opinions.
With e-mobility, you can already test it and decide for yourself whether you like it and whether it fits into your everyday life. Micha Meier from the 5th floor can't just throw an extension cable from the balcony to charge his e-car, there has to be infrastructure for everyone.
I've been testing electric cars for some time now, my wife was always skeptical and has now been driving a plug-in hybrid with a range of 50 km for six months and charges the car every evening because she prefers electric to petrol.
New technologies have to fit into our lives and be experienced personally in order to be able to form an informed opinion.

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Chris@Multibagger

@EpsEra Young as you are, you can also invest in this trend for the next 20 years and then skim off the big profits. I would like to have reached my project goal in 7 years at the latest.

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

@Multibagger
Chris, that makes me smile 😅 I'm not quite that young anymore. Investing 20 years really does sound like half an eternity. I think that in five years' time, we'll be at the point where it's a reality and no longer just a trend 🚀

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Tenbagger2024@Tenbagger2024

Hello my dear

https://www.wallstreet-online.de/nachricht/19959863-milliarden-markt-voraus-brookfield-humanoide-roboter-kooperation-figure-ai

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

Thanks for sharing 🙏 mega exciting Brookfield is using its real estate and infrastructure as a training ground for the robots and the market is expected to reach trillions by 2050 really strong.

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Maximilian@Max095

$6861 is starting to look really exciting for a long-term entry.

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

@Max095
Yes Max, Keyence is also an exciting company for me 👌 I am following developments with great interest, particularly in the area of visualization and sensor technology, and am also planning to invest there in the long term 🚀

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Tenbagger2024@Tenbagger2024

Thank you.
It would be interesting to take a look at the medical field here.
Because prostheses have come a long way in the meantime.

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

@Tenbagger2024
Top addition 👌 Do you have a video or a source for this? I would really like to take a look 🔎

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Tenbagger2024@Tenbagger2024

@EpsEra
Unfortunately not at the moment.
But I have seen reports that they work well and can be partially controlled by the brain and muscles

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Elsa E.@EpsEra

@Tenbagger2024
Top 👍 be sure to post if you find something!

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