The most sensitive and durable robot hand

A new robotic hand for Google DeepMind is one of the most sensitive and dexterous yet created - and it’s also robust enough to endure impacts that have destroyed other designs.

To expand machine learning in the complex field of robotic hands, Google DeepMind turned to Shadow Robot. The result is DEX-EE, a robotic hand replete with high-speed sensor networks that provide rich data including position, force, and inertial measurement.

The robotic hand needed to be highly robust and was subjected to an array of rigorous testing, as the video below shows.

To exercise fine control over the application of force, and actuate the array of joints in the hand, Shadow Robot partnered with maxon to create a highly capable drive system.

Read the full story on the maxon blog.

Image copyright 2025 The Shadow Robot Company Ltd. All rights reserved.

New High Efficiency Joints for mobile robots

maxon has launched a range of high efficiency, torque-dense joints for mobile autonomous robots, including humanoids, quadrupeds, and mobile manipulation. High output power for dynamic movements is combined with efficiency up to 86% for long battery life.

The high efficiency robot joints comprise a full sub-system including motor, planetary gears, electronics, and sensing.?

HEJ 90 and HEJ 70

The larger High Efficiency Joint HEJ 90 targets locomotion and propulsion systems, generating up to 140Nm maximum torque, with customisation achieving up to 180Nm as required. This is combined with maximum joint velocity up to 13 rad/s. The HEJ 90 has a 90mm axial length, a diameter of 110mm, and a mass of 1.96kg, and operates with an input voltage between 30V and 60V.?

The more compact High Efficiency Joint HEJ 70 achieves up to 50Nm maximum torque for mobile robot manipulation tasks, with a maximum joint velocity up to 28 rad/s. The axial length is just 73mm with 86.5mm diameter, and a mass of only 1.1kg, creating a powerful, lightweight solution. The HEJ 70 also operates with an input voltage between 30V and 60V.??

Both High Efficiency Joints provide a variety of control modes including joint position, velocity, torque, motor current (FOC) joint impedance controller, plus PDO-mappable control gains. Controlled over EtherCAT, the robotic joints feature a communication rate of 1 kHz. The HEJ units also feature low inertia and low back driving torque.??

Durability for tough environments

The durable system features IP67 protection, preventing ingress of dust and enabling outdoor use with liquid resistance including submersion in 1m deep water for up to 30 minutes, as well as continuous thermal dissipation with active cooling. The HEJ units also feature integrated heat sinks and cross-roller bearings to facilitate deep systems integration.?

The electrical interface for both HEJ units includes two EtherCAT ports for daisy-chain connection of several systems, with Full Duplex EtherCAT connection at 100 Mbit/s.??

The HEJ 90 unit is now available, while the HEJ 70 is scheduled for availability in Q2 2025. Find out more here.??

Multi-axis motion control: MACS versus PLCs

In the realm of automation and control systems, choosing the right controller can significantly impact the efficiency and performance of your application. A new article on the maxon blog by maxon engineer Amir Janjua explores maxon’s MACS range compared to standard PLCs and microcontrollers.

For applications such as robotics that require the coordination of multiple axes of DC or brushless DC motors, a master controller is required. Application designers might be tempted by the familiarity of a PLC or a standard microcontroller, however, a microcontroller dedicated to providing motion coordination of multiple axes can create a higher performing, more reliable control system.??

This article looks at issues ranging from real-time capabilities, integrated power amplifiers, plus the advantage of kinematics libraries.

You can read the article here.

Technical ceramics - harder than steel

Ceramic components can be more wear-resistant than steel, yet it's a common misconception that items manufactured from ceramics are fragile and brittle. Components manufactured from ceramics are not only extremely hard but they are also highly durable.

This is a result of the atomic bonds of ceramics, which are highly rigid and have strong, localised atomic interactions. Key advantages in manufacturing with ceramics include very high precision, as well as high electrical and thermal insulation.

With high corrosion resistance and chemical stability, ceramics are also biocompatible, enabling their use for a variety of #medtech applications.

While designs include ceramic components for drive systems, maxon can also create custom components for virtually any application or use. Find out more about ceramics, as well as maxon's manufacturing capabilities with this unique material, here.

Designers of medical devices can also find out more about maxon's ceramic solutions at Medical Technology UK, 12-13 March, at the Coventry Building Society Arena, stand 113.

Find out more from maxon UK & Ireland at maxongroup.co.uk or find your maxon contact here.