Thinker Announces 'Think Hand proto-2': Robotic Automation for Wire Harness Mating
Thinker has developed 'Think Hand proto-2', a robotic hand that automates the mating of wire harnesses. The new 'Haptic Connecting Technology' allows for delicate positioning, expanding the scope of automation in manufacturing. A live demo is scheduled for June.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: May 19, 2026 at 21:30
- 🔍 Collected: May 19, 2026 at 13:01
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: May 20, 2026 at 08:54 (19h 52m after Collected)
Thinker, a company aiming to make robots as easy to use as home appliances, has announced the development of 'Think Hand proto-2,' a robotic hand equipped with 'Haptic Connecting Technology' to automate wire harness mating.
Wire harnesses are used in most electronic and precision devices across automotive, home appliance, aerospace, and robotics industries. Traditionally, wire harness mating has been difficult to automate, as it requires flexible handling of connectors and extremely delicate positioning adjustments during insertion, leaving the task dependent on human labor.
Addressing this, Thinker has applied its existing 'Haptic Picking' technology to connector handling and developed new 'Haptic Connecting' technology to achieve the delicate, flexible adjustments required for insertion. This successful automation covers tasks long handled intuitively by human hands.
Previously, Thinker contributed to manufacturing automation through its 'Haptic Picking' technology, which picks up randomly placed parts. By integrating the new 'Haptic Connecting' technology, the company now covers not only sorting and placing but also installation, assembly, and mating processes, significantly expanding the potential for manufacturing automation.
The 'Think Hand proto-2' will be presented at 'ROBOT TECHNOLOGY JAPAN 2026,' held at Aichi Sky Expo from June 11 to 13, 2026.
Wire harnesses are used in most electronic and precision devices across automotive, home appliance, aerospace, and robotics industries. Traditionally, wire harness mating has been difficult to automate, as it requires flexible handling of connectors and extremely delicate positioning adjustments during insertion, leaving the task dependent on human labor.
Addressing this, Thinker has applied its existing 'Haptic Picking' technology to connector handling and developed new 'Haptic Connecting' technology to achieve the delicate, flexible adjustments required for insertion. This successful automation covers tasks long handled intuitively by human hands.
Previously, Thinker contributed to manufacturing automation through its 'Haptic Picking' technology, which picks up randomly placed parts. By integrating the new 'Haptic Connecting' technology, the company now covers not only sorting and placing but also installation, assembly, and mating processes, significantly expanding the potential for manufacturing automation.
The 'Think Hand proto-2' will be presented at 'ROBOT TECHNOLOGY JAPAN 2026,' held at Aichi Sky Expo from June 11 to 13, 2026.
FAQ
Where can I see the Think Hand proto-2 exhibition?
It will be showcased at 'ROBOT TECHNOLOGY JAPAN 2026' at Aichi Sky Expo from June 11 to 13, 2026.
What is the key feature of this robot hand?
It features proprietary 'haptic connecting technology' that automates wire harness mating, which requires delicate positioning that was previously hard to automate.
What is Thinker's mission?
Thinker aims to create production environments where humans and robots truly collaborate by developing robotic hands that can think and judge for themselves.