Armies of humanoid robots are poised to march into the world’s factories. But before they’re ready to turn a wrench, they must solve what Elon Musk calls “the hands problem.”
Creating the mechanical equivalent of the human hand is a challenge that has been stumping researchers for years, writes The Wall Street Journal (Oct. 27, 2025) . Replacing muscle and skin with motors and sensors is a critical step in making humanoids a versatile source of labor, potentially unlocking a global market that could reach $5 trillion by 2050.
The robotic hand of the future will need many sensors to emulate a human hand. Holding a pencil, for example, would require sensors along the sides of several fingers.
Tesla’s humanoid robot—called Optimus—is good at walking, but making hands that can match a human’s has been a far tougher job. “In order to have a useful generalized robot, you do need this,” Musk said. “You do need an incredible hand.”
Boston Dynamics has equipped its Atlas humanoids with hands that have only three fingers. They can form a palm that allows the robot to lift boxes or brace itself. One digit also can rotate to serve as a thumb, letting the robot grasp objects. The humanoid can pick up auto parts, pump a dumbbell and pluck a tissue from a box. But a robotic hand must make trade-offs between strength, dexterity, slenderness and ruggedness. Increasing one attribute can diminish another.
Industrial robots have relied on pincerlike hands for decades, and are still the most cost-effective form. MicroFactory (in San Francisco) produces a $5,000 robot that has two arms, one of which typically is equipped with a tool, the other with a 2-digit gripper that holds an object in place. That setup can perform most of the functions needed for electronics assembly, such as soldering, inserting screws or peeling off protective films.
The difficulties of re-creating the human hand lead to questions about why it is being done, given that the real thing already exists in humans. The answer: the shortage of workers for factory and caregiving jobs is driving the need for alternatives.
Classroom discussion questions:
- There are almost a half-million open factory jobs in the U.S. Given the tight job market, will your students be willing to take them?
- Why are humanoid robots so sought after?
When the U. of South Carolina started its supply-chain program in 2007, there were 30 business-school students in it. Today, the program has grown to over 800. That’s a function of how logistics has changed the world, especially since the pandemic. Package-delivery trucks constantly weave through neighborhood streets. Porches and mailrooms are crowded with deliveries from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Temu and Shein. DoorDash and Uber Eats drivers ferry burritos, pizza, and sushi. Uber and Lyft have largely displaced yellow taxis. Instacart does your grocery shopping for you.