Part 8/14:
Hardware Mechanics and Mechanical Actuation Challenges
Elon Musk has repeatedly pointed out the inherent difficulty of replicating human hands. Achieving the necessary degrees of freedom, miniaturization, efficiency, and reliability in actuators involves overcoming fundamental engineering obstacles. Small actuators must be highly efficient, produce minimal heat, and maintain durability, all in a compact form factor suitable for humanoids.
Current actuator technology tends to grow larger or less reliable as complexity increases; thus, creating a practical, cost-effective, high-performance humanoid hand remains a key challenge. Mechanical linkage complexity further complicates the design, making it hard to sustain long-term operation without frequent failures.