PHYBOT Unveils Direct-Drive Robotic Hand With 23 Active Joints

GUANGZHOU, China -- Chinese robotics developer PHYBOT has showcased a direct-drive robotic hand with 23 active joints, which uses a five-fingered design to improve precision assembly tasks, robotic research and integration with humanoid robots.

The PhyHand made its public debut at the 140th Canton Fair, which opened Oct. 15. The hand weighs 750 grams and operates on a fully direct-drive architecture with two encoders.

Unlike systems that rely on cables or tendons to transmit movement from motors located away from the joints, PhyHand uses direct-drive actuators to control its joints. PHYBOT reports the design reduces mechanical play and allows more precise positioning and force tuning.

The hand’s  23 degrees of freedom enable independent finger motion; actual dexterity depends on sensors and control. The configuration is intended to support complex grasping and manipulation tasks, although the number of controlled joints alone does not establish dexterity or performance.

In line with PHYBOT's analysis, the design strives to reduce mechanical play for better positioning and force control. At the Canton Fair, visitors saw the hand play rock-paper-scissors.

More demanding manipulation tasks remain under development. The company continues developing fine-grasping, integrates it across robot platforms, and tests in real-world conditions.

For industrial applications, that matters because mimicking gestures doesn't prove a hand can manage small parts, keep a steady grip, or handle repetitive assembly.

PHYBOT has not published the ranges for grip-force, the sensor resolution, or the sampling rate. The manufacturer did not clarify if the hand would be sold separately or integrated into its humanoid platforms, nor it disclosed other commercial details.

Founded in September 2024, Guangzhou Dongyi Artificial Intelligence Technology Co. operates under the PHYBOT brand and develops humanoid robots, quadrupeds and integrated robotic joint modules.
At the Canton Fair, PHYBOT also presented its C-series humanoid robots, which performed sports demonstrations and served as guides in Chinese and English. The D‑series quadruped demonstrated heavy‑load transport while carrying industrial‑inspection and emergency‑response equipment.