Thinker Inc. (headquarters: Osaka, Japan; CEO: Hiromichi Fujimoto), which aims to realize robots that can be used as easily as home appliances, will exhibit at 'RoboDEX Kansai,' held at Intex Osaka from May 13 (Wednesday) to 15 (Friday), 2026. The company will unveil for the first time a demonstration of tactile pick-and-place and meshing of gears using its robot hand 'Think Hand F'.
In manufacturing sites, there are numerous tasks involving contact with objects, such as combining, inserting, and meshing parts, not just simply transferring them to a predetermined position. In such tasks, even slight variations in the position, posture, or contact state of parts can make it difficult for robots to perform stably with only pre-programmed movements.
The demonstration, unveiled for the first time, will show 'Think Hand F' picking up a gear and meshing it with another gear. When meshing gears, there are cases where they do not mesh smoothly due to the relative positions of the teeth. Even in such cases, 'Think Hand F' will adjust its position and movement as if feeling its way, and mesh the gears.
This demonstration shows a technology where robots not only reproduce predetermined trajectories but also adjust their movements in response to displacement and resistance during contact. Such 'adjusting while touching' movements are one of the important elements for implementing physical AI in manufacturing sites.
Thinker has been developing technology to 'stably handle variable objects on site,' which was difficult for conventional robots, by utilizing robot hand technology with proximity sensors. In this exhibition, using gears, a common component in manufacturing sites, as a theme, we will introduce the tactile movement capabilities of 'Think Hand F' and its potential application to assembly tasks involving contact, through actual demonstrations to visitors.
Thinker will continue to contribute to creating production sites where humans and robots can truly collaborate, by making robots more accessible and easier to use, while addressing on-site challenges in the manufacturing and logistics fields.
The 2nd RoboDEX Kansai Overview
Dates: May 13 (Wednesday) - May 15 (Friday), 2026, 10:00 - 17:00
Venue: Intex Osaka
Booth Number: K39-40
Address: 1-5-102 Nanko-Kita, Suminoe-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 559-0034, Japan
Official URL: https://www.fiweek.jp/osaka/ja-jp/about/robo.html
*Pre-registration required https://www.nepconjapan.jp/osaka/ja-jp/register.html?code=1650359726439282-NFR
Company Profile
Name: Thinker Inc.
Address: Osaka Center Building 6F-188, 4-1-3 Kyutaro-machi, Chuo-ku, Osaka-shi, Osaka 541-0056, Japan
Representative: Hiromichi Fujimoto, Representative Director and CEO
Established: August 2022
Company Description: We aim to create a society where humans and robots collaborate and evolve together, and are engaged in the development of robot hands that think and make decisions autonomously.
URL: https://www.thinker-robotics.co.jp/
Remarks: The company name Thinker embodies the aspirations of 'a group that thinks deeply,' 'thinking robots,' and 'accelerating the evolution (shinka) of robots.'
Related Links
・Thinker to Conduct Demonstration for JR East Railway Track Maintenance Work — Utilizing Tactile Pick & Place Technology in the Preparation Process for Rail Replacement — (PR TIMES April 22, 2026)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000067.000106143.html
・Nasu Packaging, which handles automotive parts, introduces the bulk picking robot 'Thinker Model A' — Automation of packaging work. Addressing labor shortages and promoting employment for people with disabilities. — (PR TIMES April 13, 2026)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000065.000106143.html
・'Thinker Selected for Forbes Japan '100 NEXT GENERATION LEADERS''
(PR TIMES December 1, 2025)
https://prtimes.jp/main/html/rd/p/000000060.000106143.html
・How to Create the Future Learning from Star Trek [Kansai Neo Leaders]
(Osaka NEWS [TV Osaka News])
FACT BOX
- Source: PR TIMES
- Category: Event
- Products / services: Think Hand F / Thinker Model A