A major focus in robot innovation today is the development of robotic hands that can reproduce the dexterous movements of human hands. At CES 2026, Sharp exhibited a hand with human-level dexterity. RealHand thrilled the audience with a piano performance using an AI-equipped robotic hand.

CES 2026 featured a wide variety of robots on display, but currently, the major focus in robot innovation is the development of robotic hands that can move dexterously like human hands.

Through various innovations, the lower body movements of humanoid robots have become quite human-like. In fact, demonstrations of humanoid robots walking and running have become a common sight everywhere. However, robots with human-like hand and finger movements are virtually nonexistent. Human hands and finger movements are more precise than we imagine. If robotic hands and fingertips could possess human-level dexterity, they could replace tasks previously performed by humans. For example, robots could take over tasks previously considered human-only, such as removing fine dust from products on a factory line or transporting delicate and fragile items like glasswork and antiques.

Developing a dexterous hand in the robotics field can serve as a catalyst for stimulating social innovation.

As proof of this, the winner of the CES 2026 Innovation Award (Robotics) was the “Sharpawave,” a hand that achieves human-level dexterity.

Sharpawave was developed by Sharp, a Singapore-based AI robotics company.

According to the company, Sharpawave was designed for robotics companies, academic institutions, and research organizations. It is 1:1 scale, the same as a human hand, and can perform 22 movements freely. It is equipped with ultra-sensitive tactile sensors, offering dynamic range, spatial resolution, frame rate, and advanced tactile recognition capabilities. Going forward, the company will also roll out a comprehensive development platform designed to accelerate innovation in robotics. It aims to bridge the gap between research and practical application through seamless integration with high-precision simulation models.

RealHand, a Silicon Valley-based deep-tech robotics company, exhibited its AI-equipped “Dexterous Robotic Hand.” It demonstrated a humanoid robot playing the piano, wowing the audience with its precision and dexterity.

RealHand is focused on solving the challenges of hands in robotics. Its focus is on developing robots with the dexterity of human hands by utilizing physical AI.

The company recognizes that dexterous manipulation will be the next frontier for robotics. With the expansion of automation and remote control, it believes that robots with human-like movement will dramatically improve the productivity of manufacturing, logistics, and service robots. (Kei Kitajima)

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