AgileX Robotics has unveiled a striking demonstration of advanced robotic dexterity, combining its PiPER robotic arm with the highly flexible Linkerbot Chius dexterous hand to perform complex manipulation tasks with human-like precision.
A recently released video captures the arm-hand duo performing a variety of challenging lab tasks. The PiPER, designed for speed, lightness, and accuracy, was paired with the Chius hand developed by Chinese firm Lingxin Qiaoshou to demonstrate precise, coordinated movements.
The demonstration began with the robotic pair gracefully handling a spoon, mimicking natural human motion. They then moved on to pipetting, a delicate task requiring steady, repeatable accuracy. Next, the system executed bottle decapping and recapping with careful force control, ensuring no damage or spillage. Finally, it shook stoppered test tubes, underscoring adaptability to common lab workflows.
“This real-world demo perfectly showcases PiPER’s outstanding adaptability and accuracy in advanced lab automation and intricate manipulation tasks,” AgileX noted in its video description.
PiPER itself is a six-joint, aluminum-alloy robotic arm weighing just 9.26 lbs (4.2 kg) yet capable of lifting 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) and reaching 24.6 inches (626 mm). It achieves a precision of ±0.1 mm and operates across a wide temperature range (–4 °F to 122 °F / –20 °C to 50 °C). The arm supports multiple control methods including drag-teaching, Python programming, PC operation, and ROS1/ROS2 integration and uses a CAN communication interface with a tablet-friendly programming setup.
The Linkerbot Chius hand, designed for research, industry, and rehabilitation, offers adaptive grasping, wireless master-slave control, and force perception technology. This allows it to handle objects of varied shapes, sizes, and fragility with high accuracy, enabling seamless execution of intricate, human-like manipulations.
Together, PiPER and Chius demonstrate the next step in robotic lab automation machines capable not just of repetitive tasks, but of performing them with finesse, adaptability, and the precision once exclusive to human hands.