Discrete and Process Automation

Watch as a backdrivable robot hand rapidly threads a nut onto a bolt

01 December 2025

A robotic hand capable of rotating a nut on a bolt at super high speed, thanks to it being fully backdrivable and torque transparent so that it adapts naturally to the nut, has been developed by New York-based Kyber Labs.

“This is fully in real time, no speed ups or slow mo, what you see is exactly what the hardware is doing. This works because the hand is fully mechanically backdrivable,” explained the company. “The goal isn’t speed for its own sake. It’s about making manipulation more reliable and easier for software and learning systems. When the hardware handles variability and adapts on its own, the control stack can be simpler and more robust. This is just one small example of our design philosophy at work: building hands that make real-world interaction easier.”

Source: Kyber LabsSource: Kyber Labs

With actuators that are backdrivable and super-torque-transparent, the hand rotates a nut on a bolt at super high speed, entirely in real time with no edits.

For more on the robotic hand, watch the accompanying video that appears courtesy of Kyber Labs.

To contact the author of this article, email mdonlon@globalspec.com


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Discussion – 1 comment

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Re: Watch as a backdrivable robot hand rapidly threads a nut onto a bolt
#1
2025-Dec-03 12:03 PM

Wait - I want to see it start the nut over and over with never cross threading it. Then I'll be impressed.

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