Date: Friday May 22
Time: 3:30PM – 4:30PM (EST)
Location: NSH (Newell Simon Hall) 3305

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Title: Building Robot Hands and Teaching Dexterity

Abstract: 

Our human hands are masterpieces of power and precision, capable of typing, hammering, or delicately using chopsticks. Yet most robots today still rely on simple two-finger grippers in controlled settings because dexterous hands are costly and difficult to deploy. To close this gap, I will introduce my LEAP Hands, high-performance, low-cost, and easy-to-assemble robotic hands that have become the most widely used platform for dexterous manipulation research. LEAP Hand V1 employs motor-in-joint actuation for simplicity, while V2 introduces a novel hybrid rigid–soft structure that delivers exceptional strength and durability.  I will then show how large-scale human video/motion data and simulation techniques can teach human-like manipulation skills across diverse environments.  By tightly integrating mechanical design and machine learning, my open-source robot hands achieve unprecedented levels of dexterity for a variety of everyday tasks.  To conclude, I will discuss emerging directions in the field of dexterous manipulation research and share my future vision that I will pursue as a faculty member at the University of Illinois.

​Prof. Deepak Pathak (advisor)

Prof. Nancy Pollard

Prof. Abhinav Gupta

Prof. Jitendra Malik, UC Berkeley

Dr. Ankur Handa, NVIDIA

Thesis Draft