Mike Obalonsky, partner at Cortical Ventures, discusses the engineering challenges and economic potential of robotic hands with John Koetsier on NEXT with John Koetsier.
Obalonsky says human-made objects are designed around the dexterity, touch, and proprioception of human hands. Robotic hands must span delicate tasks, such as sensing force at a screwdriver tip, and powerful ones, such as using a hammer.
Obalonsky distinguishes navigation from manipulation, which can be general-purpose or built for a specific task. Autonomous driving had a clearer business case and more mature technology, while humanoid funding often emphasized walking and whole-body motion without proving human-level dexterity.
Grasping an object and manipulating it, such as using a knife, require different capabilities. Robotic hands need advances across actuators, wrists, touch sensors, control, and AI. Obalonsky points to wet, greasy dishes as a case where vision alone may not reveal an object's grip or the force needed to hold it.
Obalonsky says different applications need different levels of dexterity: warehouse robots may handle packaged goods with simple grippers or suction, while other jobs need more capable hands. He describes a practical path of targeting tasks that deliver value now and improving capability over time, potentially with human and robot teams.
Obalonsky says Cortical Ventures invests in frontier robotics, including actuators and tactile sensing, and sees broad economic potential if dexterity improves. Koetsier suggests that robots could use interchangeable end effectors for different jobs. Obalonsky imagines autonomous dexterity enabling major productivity gains and work beyond Earth.
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