Introduction
Figure 03 places cameras in the palms and adds tactile sensing to each fingertip for close manipulation. Figure says each fingertip sensor can detect forces as small as three grams. That sensitivity figure is company-reported, and Figure does not publish an independent durability study or complete hand actuator specification. Palm cameras keep a near-field view during grasps when the head cameras are partly occluded.
Key findings
- Figure documents one palm camera in each hand and a first-generation tactile sensor in each fingertip.
- Figure reports fingertip sensitivity down to three grams of force.
- Palm cameras can retain a close view when the head cameras are occluded during a grasp.
- Public evidence includes industrial part handling and Figure demonstrations tied to Helix.
- Exact hand actuator layout, tactile spatial resolution and independent durability data remain undisclosed.
Figure Robot Hand Palm Cameras, Tactile Sensing and Helix - evidence comparison
The table records what each source establishes and keeps missing data visible.
| System or method | What the evidence establishes | Evidence class | Main unresolved point |
|---|---|---|---|
| Figure 03 hardware | The official product announcement documents palm cameras and a first-generation tactile system. | Officially documented | Exact hand DoF, actuator layout, tactile taxel count and independent durability data are not public. |
| Helix demonstrations | Figure has published autonomous manipulation demonstrations tied to its vision-language-action system; conditions and edited segments must be read carefully. | Company demonstration | Figure's production and sensitivity figures are company-reported. |
| BMW work | Figure reports production work at BMW, including part handling and thousands of operating hours, as company-reported deployment evidence. | Company-reported industrial evidence | Public videos do not expose every intervention, reset or failed trial. |
Evidence classification
- Officially documented specifications, standards or project status stated by the responsible organization.
- Real-system evidence demonstrations or deployments performed on physical hardware under described conditions.
- Company claim a numerical or operational statement reported by the company and not independently audited.
- Simulation or research evidence useful for mechanisms, but not proof of field deployment.
- Insufficient public evidence control mode, trial count, version or operating conditions are missing.
Definition and design boundary
The Figure robot hand is a five-finger end-effector integrated with the Figure 03 humanoid and its Helix control system. Palm cameras provide viewpoints that remain close to the object during reaching and grasping. Tactile sensors provide contact information. Neither feature alone proves reliable autonomous manipulation.
How the hand architecture works
Figure says Figure 03 uses palm cameras for in-hand visual feedback when the head camera is occluded and tactile sensors in each fingertip for contact feedback. The company states that the fingertip sensors detect forces as small as three grams. That is a manufacturer specification, not an independent durability or standardized tactile benchmark.
How to compare dexterity claims
The review method for Figure robot hand follows the hardware, software and deployment evidence published by Figure AI, 1X Technologies, Figure 03. It checks contact-force range, tactile coverage, grasp success, tendon or gear life and service procedure and refuses to infer fleet scale, autonomy or reliability from a single edited demonstration.
Failure modes during manipulation
Palm images can be blurred by motion, occluded by the object or affected by lighting. Tactile sensitivity claims do not specify full skin coverage or standardized test methods. A policy can fail after an object shifts outside training distributions. Cycle-time evidence from one task does not transfer to fine domestic manipulation.
Credible applications today
Credible applications include Industrial part placement and material handling, Bimanual household tasks demonstrated by Figure and Data collection for Helix and hand-eye coordination research.
Limitations and missing information
- Exact hand DoF, actuator layout, tactile taxel count and independent durability data are not public.
- Figure's production and sensitivity figures are company-reported.
- Public videos do not expose every intervention, reset or failed trial.
- Specifications, prices, repositories and deployment status can change after publication.
- Benchmarks from different robots or environments are not directly comparable.
Conclusion
Figure 03 adds palm cameras and fingertip tactile sensing to its five-finger hands. Figure states that each fingertip sensor can detect forces as small as three grams, while exact hand DoF, actuator layout, tactile taxel count and independent durability data remain undisclosed. Published manipulation clips should still be read with their stated control mode and task conditions.
Sources and methodology
Sources for Figure robot hand were rechecked on September 26, 2026, beginning with Figure 03 and Helix 02 technical updates from Figure AI. Company sensitivity and production figures remain attributed to Figure, and undisclosed hardware fields remain marked as such.
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Source review notes
Review date recorded September 26, 2026
Supported by the cited sources
- Figure 03 has an embedded palm camera in each hand and a tactile sensor in each fingertip.
- Figure reports fingertip sensitivity down to the weight of a three-gram object, and Helix 02 uses palm-camera and fingertip tactile inputs for autonomous manipulation demonstrations.
Not confirmed or incomplete
- Exact hand DoF, actuator layout, tactile taxel count and independent durability data are not public.
- Figure's production and sensitivity figures are company-reported.
- Public videos do not expose every intervention, reset or failed trial.
Likely to change quickly
- Commercial availability, prices, model versions and software access.
- Deployment counts, company partnerships and repository maintenance status.
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