qb Robotics
qbrobotics is an Italian company in the Pisa area of Tuscany, founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology, active in producing robotic devices that use soft-robotics technology. Fabio Bonomo is CEO, and Giorgio Grioli and Manolo Garabini are also founders. Its main products are robotic hands, handles, grippers for delta robots and variable stiffness actuators, all built on the idea of using compliance and softness to make robots safer and more adaptable. Its qb SoftHand family includes the qb SoftHand Industry for factory use and the qb SoftHand Research, an anthropomorphic soft hand for research, in a region where CEO Fabio Bonomo has collaborated with the Research Centre E. Piaggio since 2008. The catalogue lists the SoftHand Research. qbrobotics serves collaborative robotics, research and service robotics customers.
💡Notable Achievement: qbrobotics was founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology.
What Does qb Robotics Do?
qbrobotics of Pisa builds soft-robotics products such as the qb SoftHand, grippers and variable stiffness actuators.
“Soft hands and grippers from Tuscany.”
SoftHand
Anthropomorphic soft hand for research.
Actuators
Variable stiffness actuators.
Spin-Off
From Pisa and IIT research.
What Can qb Robotics Robots Actually Do?
Cross-portfolio operational capabilities, manipulation tasks, and environmental competencies
Soft hands and grippers.
Soft Grasping
qb SoftHand adapts to objects.
qb Robotics Robot Hands
Showing 1 of 1 total model
SoftHand Research
Manufactured by qb Robotics
The qb SoftHand Research is an anthropomorphic robotic hand leveraging soft-robotics technology with mechanical synergies for adaptive grasping. Featuring 19 DOFs driven by a single underactuated motor, it replicates ~75% of human hand grips, safely interacts with humans/objects, and requires no control changes for diverse shapes/textures. Plug-and-play design with self-healing joints ensures robustness for R&D, offering simplicity, flexibility, and affordability in human-like manipulation.
qb Robotics Timeline & Milestones
Evolutionary history, landmark prototypes, major acquisitions, and commercial roadmap
qbrobotics founded as a Pisa spin-off
qbrobotics is founded as a spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology to commercialise soft-robotics technology.
Source: qbrobotics.com
qb Robotics Competitors by Category
Direct industry rivals grouped by specific robotics domain
Shadow Robot Company
→Model: Shadow Dexterous Hand
Focus: Research dexterous hands
Schunk
→Model: Schunk SVH
Focus: Robot hands and grippers
Prensilia
→Model: IH2 Azzurra Hand
Focus: Robotic and prosthetic hands
Wonik Robotics
→Model: Allegro Hand V5
Focus: Research robot hands
TU Berlin
→Model: RBO Hand 3
Focus: Soft pneumatic hands
What Makes qb Robotics Different?
Editorial AnalysisOrigin of Bots objective strategic assessment, engineering moats, and commercial hurdles
Key Strengths & Moats
- ✓Pioneering soft hand technology.
- ✓Academic pedigree.
Core Strategic Focus
Soft hands for cobots and research.
Road Ahead & Challenges
- •Small company.
- •Less dexterity than 20-DoF hands.
qb Robotics vs Key Competitors
Strategic capability matrix across platform categories, commercial readiness, and target markets
Category / Focus
- qb SoftHand Research
- Soft research hand
- Schunk SVH
- Five-finger hand
- IH2 Azzurra
- Anthropomorphic hand
- Allegro Hand V5
- Research hand
Primary Use
- qb SoftHand Research
- Research, teleoperation
- Schunk SVH
- Service robotics, AI grasping research
- IH2 Azzurra
- Not listed
- Allegro Hand V5
- Teleoperation, assembly
Degrees of Freedom
- qb SoftHand Research
- 19
- Schunk SVH
- 20
- IH2 Azzurra
- 11
- Allegro Hand V5
- 9 (base, 3 fingers × 3 DOF); 16 (Plus, 4 fingers × 4 DOF)
Release Year
- qb SoftHand Research
- 2018
- Schunk SVH
- 2013
- IH2 Azzurra
- 2013
- Allegro Hand V5
- 2025
| Strategic Dimension | qb SoftHand Research | Schunk SVH | IH2 Azzurra | Allegro Hand V5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category / Focus | Soft research hand | Five-finger hand | Anthropomorphic hand | Research hand |
| Primary Use | Research, teleoperation | Service robotics, AI grasping research | Not listed | Teleoperation, assembly |
| Degrees of Freedom | 19 | 20 | 11 | 9 (base, 3 fingers × 3 DOF); 16 (Plus, 4 fingers × 4 DOF) |
| Release Year | 2018 | 2013 | 2013 | 2025 |
Corporate Ecosystem & Ownership Structure
Parent company relationships, historical acquisitions, and global operating facilities
University of Pisa
Spin-off partner in 2011.
Ownership & Acquisition History
Spin-off partner in 2011.
Spin-off partner in 2011.
Global Facilities & Operating Hubs
qb Robotics Headquarters
HQPisa, Italy
Frequently Asked Questions
8 AnswersVerified answers, company specifications, and deployment details about qb Robotics
What is qbrobotics?
qbrobotics is an Italian company founded in 2011 near Pisa that makes soft-robotics products such as the qb SoftHand, grippers and variable stiffness actuators.
Who founded qbrobotics?
It was founded as a spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology, with Fabio Bonomo as CEO and Giorgio Grioli and Manolo Garabini as founders.
What is the qb SoftHand Research?
The qb SoftHand Research is an anthropomorphic soft hand from qbrobotics for research, using soft-robotics technology so it can adapt to objects.
What does qbrobotics make?
Its main products are robotic hands, handles, grippers for delta robots and variable stiffness actuators, all based on soft-robotics technology.
Where is qbrobotics based?
qbrobotics is based in the Pisa area of Tuscany, Italy, close to the University of Pisa and the Research Centre E. Piaggio.
How is qbrobotics connected to Centro Piaggio?
CEO Fabio Bonomo collaborated with the E. Piaggio Research Centre in Pisa from 2008, and qbrobotics is based in the same Pisa soft-robotics community.
What is soft robotics technology?
Soft robotics uses compliant and deformable components, such as variable stiffness actuators, so robots are safer around people and adapt to objects of different shapes.
Who uses qbrobotics products?
qbrobotics serves collaborative robotics, research and service robotics customers with hands, grippers and actuators. qbrobotics is an Italian company in the Pisa area of Tuscany, founded in 2011 as a spin-off of the University of Pisa and the Italian Institute of Technology, active in producing robotic devices that use soft-robotics technology.
Verified Data & Editorial Assurance
Compiled from verified corporate filings, official qb Robotics datasheets, and robotics engineering registries. Information has been verified against official manufacturer documentation. For commercial procurement or proprietary integrations, contact the manufacturer directly.