Unitree Releases Dex5-S 22-DoF Humanoid Robotic Hand Starting at 39,900 RMB
Unitree has launched the Dex5-S dexterous robotic hand featuring 22 degrees of freedom, a 1:1 human hand scale, and a starting price of 39,900 RMB. It comes in Standard and Pro versions, with the Pro model adding tactile sensing on top of dual-encoder precision control. Offering a high degree-of-freedom hardware platform with rich sensor feedback at a relatively affordable price point lowers the entry barrier for embodied AI research. Its human-scale footprint and internal routing for palm cameras streamline deployment on humanoid robot systems. Weighing 620 grams, the Dex5-S delivers a 2 kg maximum payload (1 kg continuous) and supports direct-drive, backdrive, and gear impact protection. It operates on 15V–65V power, supports Gigabit Ethernet with control frequencies up to 1000 Hz, and includes a dedicated roll degree of freedom for the little finger.
## BACKGROUND
In robotics, degrees of freedom (DoF) measure the independent directions in which a joint or limb can move, allowing complex manipulation tasks. Dual encoders in robot joint modules allow the controller to measure both motor shaft rotation and actual joint output, while backdrivability enables external forces to move the joints safely for torque feedback and force compliance.