German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT
The DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is the robotics research centre of the German Aerospace Center, at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, and this entry covers its dexterous hands developed with China's Harbin Institute of Technology. The institute began research in the late 1970s with six-degree-of-freedom input devices, and it has been directed by Professor Alin Albu-Schäffer since 2012. It built the LBR I in 1995, the first impedance-controlled lightweight robot, and in 1998 DLR Hand I, its first fully integrated robot hand. The LBR III was licensed to KUKA in 2004 and became the KUKA LBR iiwa, Rollin' Justin was shown in 2006, and MIRO, a medical arm, in 2008. It also worked on space robotics, from ROTEX in 1988 to the MASCOT lander on asteroid Ryugu in 2018. The catalogue lists the DLR-HIT Hand and DLR-HIT Hand II, five-finger hands from the DLR and Harbin Institute of Technology collaboration.
💡Notable Achievement: DLR licensed its LBR III lightweight robot to KUKA in 2004, and it became the KUKA LBR iiwa.
What Does German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Do?
DLR's Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics is a leading German research centre; this entry covers its five-finger DLR-HIT hands, developed with China's Harbin Institute of Technology.
“German aerospace robotics with a Chinese hand partnership.”
Lightweight Arms
LBR III became the KUKA LBR iiwa.
Robot Hands
DLR Hand I in 1998, then DLR-HIT hands with Harbin.
Space Robotics
ROTEX, ROKVISS and the MASCOT asteroid lander.
What Can German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Dexterous hands and lightweight robots for research.
Dexterous Hands
Multisensory five-finger hands from the DLR and HIT collaboration.
German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Robot Hands
Showing 2 of 2 total models
DLR-HIT Hand II
By: German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT
Launched: 2009
The DLR-HIT Hand II is a highly integrated, five-finger dexterous robot hand developed through a collaboration between DLR and HIT. It serves as a more compact, lighter, and more powerful successor to the DLR-HIT Hand I. Each of its five modular fingers features four joints and three active degrees of freedom, with all actuators, high-speed communication electronics, and multisensory systems integrated directly into the finger and palm. This design allows for complex telemanipulation and autonomous grasping, famously winning the IF-Product Design Award in 2009 for its seamless mechanical integration.
DLR-HIT Hand
By: German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT
Launched: 2004
The DLR-HIT Hand, jointly developed by DLR and HIT based on DLR Hand II, features four identical fingers (one as opposing thumb) with four joints each, enabling human-like motor functions for fine manipulation and power grasping. It integrates brushless DC motors, joint torque/angle sensors, and FPGA-based communication in a compact design for medium-cost applications. Recognized worldwide as technologically leading, it mounts easily to robot arms with multisensory capabilities for dexterous tasks.
German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
LBR I lightweight robot launched
DLR launches the LBR I, the first impedance-controlled lightweight robot, the start of a line of arms that later reaches industry.
Source: dlr.de
DLR Hand I introduced
DLR introduces DLR Hand I, the institute's first fully integrated robot hand.
Source: dlr.de
LBR III licensed to KUKA
DLR licenses the LBR III to KUKA Roboter GmbH, which develops it into the KUKA LBR iiwa.
Source: dlr.de
Rollin' Justin humanoid presented
DLR presents Rollin' Justin, a humanoid robot with a mobile base and two arms.
Source: dlr.de
MASCOT lander deployed on asteroid Ryugu
The MASCOT lander, developed with DLR, is successfully deployed on the asteroid Ryugu.
Source: dlr.de
German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Decades of hand and arm research.
- ✓Successful technology transfer to KUKA.
Core Strategic Focus
Research on dexterous manipulation and space robotics.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Research hands are not off-the-shelf products.
- •Newer low-cost hands are widely available.
German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Category / Focus
- DLR-HIT Hand II
- Five-finger research hand
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- Research dexterous hand
- Allegro Hand V5
- Research robot hand
- Schunk SVH
- Five-finger hand
Primary Use
- DLR-HIT Hand II
- Teleoperation, assembly
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- Teleoperation, assembly
- Allegro Hand V5
- Teleoperation, assembly
- Schunk SVH
- Service robotics, AI grasping research
Degrees of Freedom
- DLR-HIT Hand II
- 15
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- 24 (20 actuated + 4 underactuated)
- Allegro Hand V5
- 9 (base, 3 fingers × 3 DOF); 16 (Plus, 4 fingers × 4 DOF)
- Schunk SVH
- 20
Release Year
- DLR-HIT Hand II
- 2009
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- 2004
- Allegro Hand V5
- 2025
- Schunk SVH
- 2013
| Strategic Dimension | DLR-HIT Hand II | Shadow Dexterous Hand | Allegro Hand V5 | Schunk SVH |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category / Focus | Five-finger research hand | Research dexterous hand | Research robot hand | Five-finger hand |
| Primary Use | Teleoperation, assembly | Teleoperation, assembly | Teleoperation, assembly | Service robotics, AI grasping research |
| Degrees of Freedom | 15 | 24 (20 actuated + 4 underactuated) | 9 (base, 3 fingers × 3 DOF); 16 (Plus, 4 fingers × 4 DOF) | 20 |
| Release Year | 2009 | 2004 | 2025 | 2013 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT Headquarters
HQOberpfaffenhofen, Bavaria, Germany
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT
What is the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics?
It is the robotics research institute of the German Aerospace Center (DLR), based at Oberpfaffenhofen near Munich, known for lightweight robot arms, robot hands, humanoids and space robotics.
Who leads DLR robotics?
Professor Alin Albu-Schäffer has directed the DLR Institute of Robotics and Mechatronics since 2012, after joining in 1995, and he helped develop the DLR lightweight robot and its transfer to KUKA.
What are the DLR-HIT hands?
The DLR-HIT Hand and Hand II are multisensory five-finger dexterous hands from the collaboration between DLR and Harbin Institute of Technology in China.
What is the link between DLR and the KUKA LBR iiwa?
DLR developed the LBR III lightweight robot and licensed it to KUKA in 2004. KUKA developed it into the LBR iiwa collaborative arm.
What is Rollin' Justin?
Rollin' Justin is a DLR humanoid robot with a mobile base and two arms, presented in 2006 as a platform for research on manipulation and service tasks.
Has DLR worked on space robots?
Yes. DLR robotics worked on ROTEX in 1988, installed ROKVISS on the International Space Station in 2005, and its MASCOT lander was deployed on asteroid Ryugu in 2018.
When did DLR build its first robot hand?
DLR introduced DLR Hand I in 1998 as the institute's first fully integrated robot hand, before later hands developed with Harbin Institute of Technology.
Where is DLR robotics located?
The institute is at the DLR site in Oberpfaffenhofen in Bavaria, Germany, and moved into a new Robotics and Mechatronics Center building in 2015 and 2016.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official German Aerospace Center (DLR) & HIT datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.