Nikon Corporation Advanced Manufacturing Business Unit
Nikon Corporation Next Generation Project Division
Global

Robot Hand

A robot hand is a device structured like a human hand that is attached to the end of a robotic arm. It is also called a "hand effector" or "end effector.”
Industrial robot hands are important in automated factories, where they are used to carry items or change the orientation of objects for easier assembly or processing. They are generally classified by type: "suction hands" or "grasping hands.”
Suction hands carry objects by adsorbing them with air or magnetic force. They are suitable for carrying lightweight objects, but if the suction cup becomes wet, dusty, or dirty, the suction strength weakens, and the object may be dropped.
Grasping hands have robotic fingers, which are finger-like mechanisms that clamp and move an object. Although they can carry objects that are heavy or have complex forms, the force exerted on the object may cause damage to the material or the product being grasped.
Consequently, the most suitable type of mechanical hand or robot hand depends on the form and material of the object to be transported.

Synonym

Mechanical Hand / Robotic Hand

Related terms

Robotic Fingers / Factory Automation

Related solutions

Application examples