Chinese Startup Unveils World's First Waterproof Dexterous Robot Hand
Heyman Technology, a Chinese robotics startup, has launched the WA series, claimed to be the world's first waterproof dexterous robot hand, addressing a critical bottleneck that has long hindered robot applications in wet environments and underwater operations.
The WA series comprises two versions: a standard IP68-rated model designed for daily household tasks such as washing vegetables and dishes, and an engineering version capable of operating at depths up to 10,000 meters. The deep-sea variant can withstand pressure levels ranging from 300 meters to the Mariana Trench's maximum depth, where each fingernail-sized area endures approximately one ton of pressure.
According to the development team, the core technical challenge lies in maintaining reliable sealing while ensuring smooth mechanical transmission and low power consumption. The company leveraged its expertise in integrated high-performance drive systems and precision magnetic encoders, combined with proprietary sealing technologies developed through years of underwater robotics experience.
Testing in high-pressure chambers simulating 10,000-meter depths demonstrated an 80% improvement in underwater operation success rates and five times greater operational versatility compared to traditional two-finger grippers.
Founder Yang Zihe holds a doctorate from Jilin University and brings nearly a decade of robotics development experience, having previously served as general manager of the robotics division at Shenhao Technology (300853). The core team includes veterans from leading Chinese universities and robotics companies, averaging ten years of industry experience. Several team members participated in developing equipment for deep-sea research vessels including Jiaolong submersible and 8,000-meter-class landers.
The technology directly addresses pain points in underwater operations. During one South China Sea expedition, researchers spent four hours locating target minerals but failed to retrieve irregularly shaped samples due to gripper limitations. Such experiences highlighted the need for adaptable manipulation capabilities underwater.
The global humanoid robot market is projected to exceed US$ 100 billion by 2030, while the service robotics market is expected to reach US$ 40 billion in 2025. The waterproof capability enables robots to perform high-frequency household tasks in kitchens, a critical requirement for home deployment.
For underwater applications, the engineering version targets multiple sectors including marine scientific research, ocean farming, underwater archaeology, and deep-sea rescue operations. Ocean farming currently relies on divers with limited daily working hours, while underwater archaeological sites at several hundred meters depth require precise force control for fragile artifacts.
Heyman Technology has established partnerships with Zhejiang University, Jilin University, and several enterprises. The company, strategically incubated by listed robotics firm Shenhao Technology and Mars Accelerator, has completed seed funding and is currently scaling production capabilities for volume delivery.