An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera

Abstract The anthropomorphic hand plays a crucial role in human-machine interaction tasks. However, there are very few hands that realize multimodal perception with high degrees of freedom (DOF) in a low-cost way. Here, we present a dexterous hand that achieves multimodal sensing solely through a ca...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Shiwei Chen, Jiapeng Li, Zhiming Deng, Peiji Wang, Cheng Wei, Xibin Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62122-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849764084621246464
author Shiwei Chen
Jiapeng Li
Zhiming Deng
Peiji Wang
Cheng Wei
Xibin Cao
author_facet Shiwei Chen
Jiapeng Li
Zhiming Deng
Peiji Wang
Cheng Wei
Xibin Cao
author_sort Shiwei Chen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The anthropomorphic hand plays a crucial role in human-machine interaction tasks. However, there are very few hands that realize multimodal perception with high degrees of freedom (DOF) in a low-cost way. Here, we present a dexterous hand that achieves multimodal sensing solely through a camera. The hand has 18 DOF but does not require any position or force sensors, making it cost-effective and easy to manufacture. We develop an integrated forearm for the hand that provides both actuation and multimodal sensing information simultaneously. This includes the 18 joint angles, 5 fingertip positions and contact forces, and information on object softness and contour. The core principle of perception is that the camera can track the displacement and tension of all tendons simultaneously. The multimodal perception model is developed by characterizing tendon properties and coupling them with the hand dynamics. Experiments indicate that our hand has potential in multimodal sensing and dexterity.
format Article
id doaj-art-e3fd642fcf104d8aaa29684cc0353abb
institution DOAJ
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-e3fd642fcf104d8aaa29684cc0353abb2025-08-20T03:05:14ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-0116111410.1038/s41467-025-62122-0An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular cameraShiwei Chen0Jiapeng Li1Zhiming Deng2Peiji Wang3Cheng Wei4Xibin Cao5School of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of TechnologySchool of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of TechnologySchool of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of TechnologySchool of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of TechnologySchool of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of TechnologySchool of Aerospace, Harbin Institute of TechnologyAbstract The anthropomorphic hand plays a crucial role in human-machine interaction tasks. However, there are very few hands that realize multimodal perception with high degrees of freedom (DOF) in a low-cost way. Here, we present a dexterous hand that achieves multimodal sensing solely through a camera. The hand has 18 DOF but does not require any position or force sensors, making it cost-effective and easy to manufacture. We develop an integrated forearm for the hand that provides both actuation and multimodal sensing information simultaneously. This includes the 18 joint angles, 5 fingertip positions and contact forces, and information on object softness and contour. The core principle of perception is that the camera can track the displacement and tension of all tendons simultaneously. The multimodal perception model is developed by characterizing tendon properties and coupling them with the hand dynamics. Experiments indicate that our hand has potential in multimodal sensing and dexterity.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62122-0
spellingShingle Shiwei Chen
Jiapeng Li
Zhiming Deng
Peiji Wang
Cheng Wei
Xibin Cao
An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
Nature Communications
title An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
title_full An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
title_fullStr An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
title_full_unstemmed An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
title_short An 18-DOF hand integrating force–position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
title_sort 18 dof hand integrating force position multimodal perception using a monocular camera
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-62122-0
work_keys_str_mv AT shiweichen an18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT jiapengli an18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT zhimingdeng an18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT peijiwang an18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT chengwei an18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT xibincao an18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT shiweichen 18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT jiapengli 18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT zhimingdeng 18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT peijiwang 18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT chengwei 18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera
AT xibincao 18dofhandintegratingforcepositionmultimodalperceptionusingamonocularcamera