Xynova's Flex 2 robot hand mixes tendons and motors in a 400-gram palm

Hangzhou startup Xynova has introduced Flex 2, a robot hand with 23 degrees of freedom that moves its fingers in two ways at once: with tendons, which are cables that pull the joints, and with motors placed directly at the joints. Fierce Sensors reported the details on 9 November 2026.

According to the company, the palm weighs 400 grams. At peak it can hold an object of up to 12 kg, and it can regulate its grip in steps as small as 0.05 N. Sensors in the wrist, fingertips and palm let the hand notice when an object starts to slide, so it can adjust its hold instead of dropping the item.

Why it matters

Hands are among the hardest parts of a humanoid robot to get right. Cables keep a hand light, while motors react faster, so combining both is an attempt to avoid giving up either. A hand that is strong yet gentle is what lets a robot handle heavy parcels as well as fragile objects.

Several points remain unclear. Xynova has not given a price, a release date or customer names, and the figures come from the company, not from outside testing. It is also unknown whether 12 kg is a brief peak or a load the hand can carry for long. Independent demonstrations and durability data will show how far the design can go.