Daxo Robotics

Must we robots be understood?
Check out more contents at @tom_jiahao

[Daxo Robotics @DaxoRobotics]

Dexterous hands are trapped in the impossible triangle of cost, durability, and dexterity. A fundamentally new way of thinking is necessary to make the leap.

[RoboPapers @RoboPapers]

How can we build robotic hands with truly superhuman dexterity? @DaxoRobotics is developing a unique tendon-driven soft robot hand, which aims to be tougher and more capable than a traditional humanoid hand. Each finger consists of many different tendons, which act in concert to move or manipulate.

This is a special episode of RoboPapers where, instead of talking about a scientific paper, we talk to @tom_jiahao, founder of Daxo Robotics, in order to learn both about his background and about how this one-of-a-kind robot hand design works.

Watch Episode #40 of RoboPapers with @micoolcho and @chris_j_paxton now!

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

Solid "handshake" from a cool visitor to our new Austin office @DaxoRobotics. We are still surprised every time we interact with our robotic hand -- it has a strong grip but doesn't hurt you.

So much fun nerding out with Scott @GoingBallistic5 on robotics and hand design. Come visit again when v1 is ready!

P.S. if you are a mechanical engineer with experience in mechanism & actuator design, DFM, rapid prototyping (sheet metal, laser cut, 3D print), please DM me.

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

Looking for an experienced mechanical engineer in Austin TX.

We iterate in a matter of weeks. You will lead a paradigm shift in robotics with our team. We promise magic very very soon.

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

Received a "surprise" call from the robot.
If it can tap, swipe, and type, it can interface with the smart tools built for humans.

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

"What are the use cases for your robot?"

Having to ask this question is a problem in itself. Why don't we ask ourselves why we buy a smartphone or a laptop?

True generality brings economies of scale and the largest market. It just needs to be done right.

[Brett Adcock @adcock_brett]

Daxo Robotics teased 'superhuman dexterity' for its in-development robotic hand

In the video, the soft hand can be seen holding a pen backward, suggesting it may be able to write backward — thus the superhuman ability

Details remain under wraps

[Daxo Robotics @DaxoRobotics]

The philosophy behind muscle v0. Appreciate the depth of questions from @MarwaEldiwiny and @GoingBallistic5.

[Marwa ElDiwiny @MarwaEldiwiny]

New podcast episode with Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao @DaxoRobotics
Full interview: https://t.co/PglyMJkkKs
Listen on Spotify: https://t.co/Masw4QYobN

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

How many dexterous robotic hands are capable of drawing a circle? Not by moving the arm around but by wiggling the fingers.

Full autonomy, too.

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

We are working on something that has never been done before in robotics. Incredibly challenging but will set the foundation for superhuman dexterity.

Stay tuned.

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

Why infinite DoF?

In contact-rich manipulation, what matters is where and how much force is applied. Low-DoF hands do not have the capacity to match the contact complexity of the human hand — making it hard to learn from human demos.

Build that capacity first.

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

Redundancy and high dimensionality are overlooked in robotics. They are crucial aspects to building a "complex" system, instead of just a "complicated" system. What you get is speed, smoothness, robustness, and performance.

[Daxo Robotics @DaxoRobotics]

This can't be my predecessor. We look nothing alike

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

(4/n) Our bet on soft mechanisms started when I first built a parallel continuum robot arm a few years ago. The smoothness and versatility were astounding. We then found ways to boost the durability, payload, and precision. Attaching a video of the soft robotic arm I built.

[Daxo Robotics @DaxoRobotics]

It's good to be out

[Tom Zhang @tom_jiahao]

Introducing Muscle v0 -- infinite degrees of freedom, from @DaxoRobotics. A different mountain to climb - with a far more beautiful peak.

We built this from the ground up:
- Ultra-dexterous
- Built for machine learning
- Durable and robust

More below (1/n)