Inspire Robots Dexterous Right Hand (RH56F1-E2R)

A gripper picks things up; a hand handles them. The difference shows the moment a robot has to turn a tool, steady a cup or pass an object from one palm to the other. The Inspire Robots Dexterous Right Hand (RH56F1-E2R) is built for that second kind of work: a right-handed, five-digit end effector with an all-metal skeleton and an industrial communication interface.

This product is available through this page, by quotation.

Background

Inspire Robots and the RH56F1 series

Inspire Robots is a Chinese maker of compact actuated components and dexterous hands for robotics. Its RH56F1 series is the line aimed at humanoid robots, mobile manipulators and research platforms that need human-like grasping. The series is described as an all-metal, integrated skeleton for superior rigidity, and the series headline performance is 1kHz real-time communication, 30kg passive payload, 15N fingertip force, and passing 20 stringent tests.

The series is organized by handedness, control interface and sensing. The RH56F1-E2R covered here is the right hand with EtherCAT+RS485 and no tactile sensors. Its mirror image is the RH56F1-E2L. Versions with tactile sensors carry the T1 suffix, and versions with EtherCAT+CAN FD are named E4R and E4L, with E4R-T1 and E4L-T1 adding tactile sensing. You can browse the wider family in the Inspire Robots category or compare other models under Robot Hands.

Positioning of the RH56F1-E2R

The RH56F1-E2R sits at the point where the series is simplest: the hand itself, with its fast communication interface, and without the added layer of tactile sensors. That makes it a sensible base for teams that already have their own way of judging contact, or that want to start with motion and force control before adding touch sensing.

The hand has 6 degrees of freedom and 12 joints. Its thumb rotates laterally through a range of 60‑180°, which is what allows the thumb to oppose the fingers in different grasp patterns. The control interface is EtherCAT+RS485, so the hand can be driven from an industrial fieldbus network or from a serial link, depending on how your robot is wired.

Technical Specifications

Specifications as published by the manufacturer; confirmed against the datasheet at quotation.

The manufacturer has not published the palm dimensions, the included accessories, the IP rating, the operating temperature, the service life, the software and SDK support or the mounting interface; they are confirmed at quotation.

What makes the RH56F1-E2R different from the tactile version?

The difference is touch. The RH56F1-E2R-T1 carries 8 tactile sensors with a range of 30N, and its weight is 630±10g. The RH56F1-E2R has no tactile sensors and weighs 615±10g.

If your task depends on knowing where and how hard an object is being touched, the T1 version is the better fit. If your task is about repeatable positioning, speed and fingertip force, and you have other ways to check the result, the E2R gives you the same interface and the same family of motion without the extra sensing. Everything else in the table above belongs to the E2R, and you should not read the tactile figures into it.

The hand does still offer a force resolution of 0.1N, so force control is part of the E2R's design and not something reserved for the tactile version.

How does the RH56F1-E2R compare with the left hand and the E4 versions?

The RH56F1-E2L is the left-hand counterpart with the same EtherCAT+RS485 interface and no tactile sensors. Two-handed robots normally need one of each, so a pair of E2R and E2L is the natural combination. If you want sensing on both sides, the RH56F1-E2L-T1 pairs with the E2R-T1.

The E4R and E4L versions use EtherCAT+CAN FD instead of EtherCAT+RS485. The fact sheet for this product gives no further figures for them, so if your robot's controller speaks CAN FD, ask us at quotation and we will confirm which version matches.

Who is the RH56F1-E2R for?

Research laboratories are the first group. A hand with a rigid all-metal skeleton and fast communication gives a lab a solid base for grasp planning, teleoperation and learning experiments, and the missing tactile layer keeps the first setup simple.

Humanoid robot builders are the second. The hand is right-handed, has a thumb that rotates laterally, and runs at 24V~48V, which suits platforms that already distribute power in that range. Builders of mobile manipulators will find the same logic applies.

Integrators who need sensing should look at the tactile version instead. If your application needs to detect contact on the fingers, the RH56F1-E2R-T1 is the better starting point, and our team can help you choose between it and the other hands in the Robot Hands category.

What is the RH56F1-E2R used for?

1. Dexterous manipulation research: studying grasp types, in-hand motion and object handling with a five-digit hand.
2. Humanoid robot right arm: giving a humanoid a right hand that can use human tools and handles.
3. Bimanual handling: working alongside the left-hand version for tasks that need two hands.
4. Teleoperation: mirroring an operator's right-hand movements on a remote robot.
5. Mobile manipulation: picking up varied objects where a simple parallel gripper is too limited.
6. Teaching and demonstration: showing students and visitors how a robot hand closes, rotates the thumb and applies force.

Pricing and Availability

We do not publish prices on this page. A quotation is how you buy: tell us how many hands, which version and what your robot needs, and we will respond with the details. Delivery, customs and support are arranged with the quotation. The Inspire Robots Dexterous Right Hand (RH56F1-E2R) is available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

What control interface does the RH56F1-E2R use?

It uses EtherCAT+RS485. The E4R and E4L versions use EtherCAT+CAN FD instead.

How many degrees of freedom and joints does it have?

The hand has 6 degrees of freedom and 12 joints.

What voltage does the hand run on?

The operating voltage is 24V~48V, and the peak current is 5A @24V.

How strong are the fingertips?

Thumb fingertip strength is ≥15N and fingertip strength is ≥10N, with a force resolution of 0.1N.

Does this version have tactile sensors?

No. For 8 tactile sensors with a 30N range, choose the RH56F1-E2R-T1.

Is there a left-hand version?

Yes, the RH56F1-E2L has the same interface and no tactile sensors, so it pairs naturally with the E2R.

Where can I buy the RH56F1-E2R and what does it cost?

You can buy it through this page by requesting a quotation. We do not list a price here; the cost is given in the quotation, together with delivery, customs and support arrangements.

Summary

Where a gripper simply holds, the RH56F1-E2R is meant to handle. Its 6 degrees of freedom, 12 joints, 0.8-second-or-better closing time and ±0.2mm repeatability are in a rigid all-metal body weighing 615±10g, and its EtherCAT+RS485 interface fits industrial control. It leaves out the tactile layer, which keeps it simple, and the T1 version is there when you need touch. If you are planning a right hand for your robot, this page is the starting point.