BrainCo’s brain-computer interface promises to change the everyday lives of people with disabilities. | Credit: BrainCo
This is a story about a teenager named Jian, who lost his right arm in an agricultural accident. He was an avid mountain climber, basketball player, and budding pianist at the time of his accident. Enter BrainCo.
Founded in 2015 and incubated by the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-Lab), the Somerville, Mass.-based company has focused on developing a non-invasive brain-computer interface (BCI).
With this new prosthetic technology, Jian was able to regain his autonomy along with his passion for rock climbing and playing the piano. The Dexterous Hand not only restored Jian’s physical abilities, but it also gave him a renewed sense of hope and a platform to help others in similar situations.
“I still remember the moment I first achieved precise control of each finger—it felt as if my lost right hand had returned,” Jian recalled. “The feeling is indescribable.”
With the Intelligent Bionic Hand, Jian has since conquered the demanding sport of rock climbing. | Credit: BrainCo
Revo 2 Dexterous Hand can lift 20 kg
BrainCo’s newly released Revo 2 Dexterous Hand weighs just 383 g (13.5 oz.) and is 16 cm (6.3 in.) long. it generates a grip force of 50 newtons (11.2 lb.), allowing it to lift up to 20 kg (44.1 lb.). This gives it a grip-to-weight ratio of 52.6, which the company said is better than the competition.
Through systematic innovation in biomimetic joint optimization, precision transmission mechanisms, and overall lightweight design, BrainCo said it has achieved lightweight performance while integrating a 3D tactile sensing system, which can accurately perceive an object’s hardness, texture, and direction of force, and even distinguish the distance when approaching the object.
This enables Revo 2 not only to “grip” objects but also to “feel” them, easily performing high-difficulty tasks such as lighting a match.
From an application perspective, Revo 2’s operating noise is controlled below 50 decibels, quieter than typical office background noise. At the same time, the product is compatible with various types of professional gloves on the market, and it remains as flexible as barehanded operation even when wearing anti-puncture gloves.
BrainCo releases SDK, works toward humanoid manipulation
BrainCo has also released a complete software development kit (SDK) package, supporting EtherCAT and wide-voltage features, significantly reducing the difficulty of developing customized scenarios.
“As the humanoid robot market booms, demand for dexterous hands as core components will also grow,” asserted the company. “The launch of Revo 2 is propelling the dexterous hand industry into a new stage of ‘lightweight and high-efficiency’ development, providing key technical support for humanoid robots to evolve toward ‘human-like’ manipulation.”
Editor’s note: RoboBusiness 2025, which will be on Oct. 15 and 16 in Santa Clara, Calif., will include tracks on physical AI, enabling technologies, humanoids, field robotics, design and development, and business. Registration is now open.
