Prensilia
Prensilia is an Italian robotics company in Pontedera, spun out in 2009 from the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa by researchers of its ARTS (Advanced Robotics and Technology) Lab. It specialises in robotic and prosthetic hands that combine advanced mechatronics, miniaturised actuators and sensors to mimic human dexterity. Its IH2 Azzurra, unveiled in 2009, was described as the first market-available, human-sized anthropomorphic hand with its actuation, sensing and control electronics embedded in the palm, with five motors driving 11 degrees of freedom. The company also makes the Mia Hand, a prosthetic hand. Prensilia sells to research labs, humanoid robot builders and prosthetics developers, and IEEE Spectrum profiled it as a start-up developing robot hands for research and prosthetics. The catalogue lists the IH2 Azzurra Hand and the Mia Hand.
π‘Notable Achievement: IH2 Azzurra, unveiled in 2009, has five motors driving 11 degrees of freedom with electronics in the palm.
What Does Prensilia Do?
Prensilia is a Pontedera spin-out of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna making anthropomorphic robot hands and the Mia prosthetic hand.
βItalian robot and prosthetic hands.β
IH2 Azzurra
Five motors, 11 DOF, electronics in the palm.
Mia Hand
Prosthetic hand for amputees.
University Roots
Spun out in 2009 from Pisa researchers.
What Can Prensilia Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Robotic and prosthetic hands.
Anthropomorphic Hands
Human-sized hands with embedded actuation and sensing.
Prosthetics
Mia Hand for amputees.
Prensilia Robot Hands
Showing 2 of 2 total models
Mia Hand
By: Prensilia
Launched: 2019
The Mia Hand is a highly dexterous, 5-finger anthropomorphic robotic hand developed by Prensilia, initially as a myoelectric prosthesis winner of the 2019 Red Dot Award and 2022 Compasso dβOro. It features underactuated design with 3-4 degrees of freedom, embedded sensors, and PID control for human-like grasping in 80% of daily activities. Versatile for humanoid robotics, industrial automation, and research, it supports multiple grasp types with up to 140N force in a compact, customizable form.
IH2 Azzurra Hand
By: Prensilia
Launched: 2013
The IH2 Azzurra is a self-contained, human-sized anthropomorphic robotic hand with underactuated fingers, embedding actuators, sensors, and control electronics in its palm and fingers. It supports versatile grasping (cylindrical, lateral, precision) via 5/11 degrees of actuation/freedom, integrated force/position sensors for object detection, and is lightweight at 640g for research in prosthetics, neuroscience, human-robot interaction, and humanoid robotics.
Prensilia Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
Prensilia spun out of Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
Researchers from the ARTS Lab at Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa found Prensilia in Pontedera to commercialise robotic and prosthetic hands.
Source: prensilia.com
IH2 Azzurra hand unveiled
Prensilia unveils the IH2 Azzurra, a human-sized anthropomorphic hand with five motors and 11 degrees of freedom and electronics embedded in the palm.
Source: prensilia.com
Prensilia Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
What Makes Prensilia Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- βOne of the earliest commercial anthropomorphic hands.
- βBoth research and prosthetic lines.
Core Strategic Focus
Hands for research and prosthetics.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- β’Newer low-cost hands compete.
- β’Small company.
Prensilia vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Category / Focus
- IH2 Azzurra
- Anthropomorphic hand
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- Research hand
- Allegro Hand V5
- Research hand
- Ability Hand
- Bionic hand
Primary Use
- IH2 Azzurra
- Not listed
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- Teleoperation, assembly
- Allegro Hand V5
- Teleoperation, assembly
- Ability Hand
- Teleoperation, dexterous manipulation
Degrees of Freedom
- IH2 Azzurra
- 11
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- 24 (20 actuated + 4 underactuated)
- Allegro Hand V5
- 9 (base, 3 fingers Γ 3 DOF); 16 (Plus, 4 fingers Γ 4 DOF)
- Ability Hand
- 6
Release Year
- IH2 Azzurra
- 2013
- Shadow Dexterous Hand
- 2004
- Allegro Hand V5
- 2025
- Ability Hand
- 2021
| Strategic Dimension | IH2 Azzurra | Shadow Dexterous Hand | Allegro Hand V5 | Ability Hand |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category / Focus | Anthropomorphic hand | Research hand | Research hand | Bionic hand |
| Primary Use | Not listed | Teleoperation, assembly | Teleoperation, assembly | Teleoperation, dexterous manipulation |
| Degrees of Freedom | 11 | 24 (20 actuated + 4 underactuated) | 9 (base, 3 fingers Γ 3 DOF); 16 (Plus, 4 fingers Γ 4 DOF) | 6 |
| Release Year | 2013 | 2004 | 2025 | 2021 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna
Prensilia spun out of its ARTS Lab in 2009.
Ownership & Acquisition History
Prensilia spun out of its ARTS Lab in 2009.
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
Prensilia Headquarters
HQPontedera, Italy
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about Prensilia
What is Prensilia?
Prensilia is an Italian company in Pontedera that makes robotic and prosthetic hands, spun out of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa in 2009.
What is the IH2 Azzurra hand?
IH2 Azzurra is Prensilia's anthropomorphic hand. It has five motors that drive 11 degrees of freedom, with actuation, sensing and control embedded in the palm.
What is the Mia Hand?
Mia Hand is one of Prensilia's flagship products, a prosthetic hand that applies the company's mechatronics and miniaturised actuator technology to amputee use.
Where did Prensilia come from?
Prensilia was founded in 2009 as a spin-off from Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna in Pisa by researchers of its ARTS Advanced Robotics and Technology Lab.
Where is Prensilia based?
Prensilia is based in Pontedera, in the Pisa province of Tuscany, Italy, close to the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna robotics community.
What technology do Prensilia hands use?
Prensilia combines advanced mechatronics, miniaturised actuators and sensor technology, so its hands can imitate human dexterity in a compact form.
Who buys Prensilia hands?
Prensilia's hands are used for research, humanoid robots and prosthetics, according to profiles of the company by IEEE Spectrum and industry directories.
Was IH2 Azzurra the first of its kind?
Prensilia describes the IH2 Azzurra, unveiled in 2009, as the first market-available five-axis human-sized anthropomorphic hand with its actuation, sensory and control system built into the palm.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official Prensilia datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.