Latest / The Robotics Podcast with Fexingo: Autonomous Systems, Industrial Robots, and Hardware
Why Robot Arms Still Can't Open a Door
Lucas and Luna explore why robot arms still struggle with one of the most basic human tasks: opening a door. They break down the physics of door handles—levers vs. knobs—and the kinematic challenges of coordinating arm and wrist motion while applying the right force. Lucas cites a 2025 study from MIT CSAIL showing that even the latest robot arms fail on standard hinged doors about 40% of the time. They discuss why simulation-to-reality transfer is especially hard for door-opening, and how new torque-sensing joints and tactile feedback loops are slowly closing the gap. A practical, surprising…
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