IH2 Azzurra: The Dexterous, Self-Contained Robotic Hand Redefining Human-Machine Interaction

Revolutionizing Grasping with Integrated Intelligence

Developed as a fully self-contained robotic hand, IH2 Azzurra embeds all core components—actuators, sensors, and control electronics—within a compact palm and under-actuated fingers. Its design facilitates a wide range of natural grasp patterns, thanks to 11 degrees of freedom and built-in force sensors capable of detecting object contact and grip precision.

Researchers and engineers benefit from its streamlined communication interface, supporting UART over USB or Bluetooth, and compatibility with leading robotic platforms such as UR, FRANKA, KUKA, and Ottobock’s QDW.

Precision Engineering for Real-World Functionality

Designed with real-life functionality in mind, IH2 Azzurra offers impressive mechanical specs:

• Grasp forces of over 35 N (cylindrical grip) and 7 N (lateral grip)

• Weight: 640 g

• Dimensions: 102 x 45 x 213 mm

• Flexion/Extension and Adduction/Abduction times: ~1 second

Its 5 actuators control 11 joints, allowing the thumb, index, middle, and coupled ring/little fingers to perform complex grasping and adaptive movement.

Advanced Control and Sensing

Under the hood, IH2 Azzurra features high-frequency PID controllers (1 kHz) that manage position, current, and force feedback. Users can define up to 10 preset grasp patterns, which are executed with the help of:

• 5 digital position sensors (1,000 pulses/degree)

• Motor current sensors and limit switches across all actuated digits

• Optional tendon tension force sensors for thumb and fingers, improving haptic responsiveness

This high-resolution sensor data enables researchers to test and refine algorithms for EMG, ENG, EEG, or sensory feedback systems with real-time performance.

Designed for Research, Built for Everyday Use

What sets IH2 Azzurra apart is its dual usability. Its lightweight, anthropomorphic design makes it suitable for clinical trials with amputees during daily activities. At the same time, it serves as an ideal collaborative end-effector for robotic arms with low payload capacity—bridging the gap between assistive prosthetics and industrial robotics.

Whether validating new neural interfaces or conducting ergonomics studies, IH2 Azzurra provides a safe, high-performing, and open framework for experimentation.

Global Impact and Open Innovation

With more than 30 research centers worldwide adopting IH2 Azzurra, it has proven itself as a leading open-source research platform in prosthetics, humanoid robotics, neurotechnology, and beyond.

The philosophy is simple: open source leads to open minds. By enabling developers and scientists to collaborate on real hardware, the platform accelerates innovation and reduces the barrier to entry for next-gen robotic design.

Keywords

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