Inspire Dexterous Left Hand (RH56F1-E2L)

Watch a two-handed robot at work and the right hand tends to take the credit, yet much of the steadying, holding and presenting is done by the left. The Inspire Dexterous Left Hand (RH56F1-E2L) is built for that quieter half of the task, and it carries a deliberate contrast. It is an all-metal hand with an integrated skeleton that bears a static passive load of 30 kg, yet it resolves fingertip force in steps of 0.1N. That combination of robustness and restraint is what a supporting hand needs. It must hold a part firmly while the other hand works on it, without crushing anything delicate.

Robots Europa, based in Dublin, supplies the RH56F1-E2L to universities, research institutes, humanoid developers and system integrators across the EU and the DACH region. Robots Europa prepares each quotation for the exact configuration requested, confirms what the order contains, and arranges delivery and technical support for customers throughout Europe.

Background

INSPIRE ROBOTS and its dexterous hands

INSPIRE ROBOTS develops dexterous robot hands for humanoid platforms, research manipulators and advanced automation. Its range covers several lines, including the RH56F1 family discussed here and other models such as the RH56BFX and the EG2 series. The manufacturer sums up the RH56F1 in a single phrase: refined structure, sensitive perception and stable manipulation. Each of those three words maps onto the figures in the table. The structure is all-metal with an integrated skeleton. Perception is expressed through a force resolution of 0.1N. Stability shows in a repeatability of ±0.2mm and a static passive load of 30 kg.

One hand, four configurations

The RH56F1 is offered in four configurations, which differ in two respects: which hand it is, and which secondary bus accompanies EtherCAT. The E2L is the left hand with EtherCAT and RS485. The E4L is the left hand with EtherCAT and CAN FD. The E2R and E4R are the corresponding right hands with the same pairing of interfaces. The figures in the table below apply to the RH56F1 line as a whole. When this page refers to the E2L, it therefore means a left hand that shares those figures and connects over EtherCAT or RS485.

Technical Specifications

Specifications are as published by the manufacturer and are confirmed against the datasheet at quotation. The manufacturer has not published the payload, the IP rating, the operating temperature, the fingertip speed, the service life, the cable length or the details of the software SDK; Robots Europa confirms these with you at quotation.

Why does the RH56F1-E2L have 12 joints but 6 degrees of freedom?

A human hand has far more joints than independent muscles control. Many robot hands follow the same principle and couple joints so that several bend together from a single actuated motion. The RH56F1 lists 12 joints and 6 degrees of freedom. In practice, its fingers curl through a natural, multi-joint arc, while the controller commands six independent motions rather than twelve. For integrators, this keeps the control problem tractable and the message traffic light. A 1 kHz communication frequency is then ample for closed-loop grasping strategies.

The force figures show how that motion is put to work. The thumb delivers at least 15N at the fingertip and each finger at least 10N, which suits a firm pinch or a wrapped power grasp. The 0.1N force resolution matters more for a supporting hand than the peak values do. It lets software hold a component just firmly enough, and ease off as the other hand applies torque or pressure. A closing time of ≤0.8s keeps cycle times reasonable without turning every grasp into a snap.

RS485 or CAN FD: which left-hand configuration should I choose?

Both left-hand versions speak EtherCAT, so the choice concerns the second interface only. EtherCAT is widely used in robot arms and humanoid platforms where several devices share one deterministic real-time network. The E2L pairs it with RS485, a long-established serial standard. RS485 is often the simpler route for bench testing, laboratory set-ups and controllers that already handle serial devices. The E4L pairs EtherCAT with CAN FD, the higher-bandwidth successor to classic CAN, which many mobile and humanoid robots use internally. If your platform's joint drives already run on CAN FD, the E4L may slot in more naturally. If you intend to bring the hand up on a workstation over serial before moving to EtherCAT, the E2L is the more direct choice. Robots Europa can check your controller architecture before you commit to either.

Who is the Inspire Dexterous Left Hand (RH56F1-E2L) for?

The first audience is research groups working on dexterous and bimanual manipulation. These teams need a capable left hand to pair with an existing right hand, or to complete a matched set. Humanoid robot developers are the second group, as they need an anthropomorphic hand with a known weight and supply voltage to design wrists and power budgets around. System integrators building two-handed demonstration or assembly cells form the third. Universities teaching robot control also benefit from a hand whose force behaviour can be measured and tuned in class.

If you need the opposite hand, the Inspire Robots Dexterous Right Hand (RH56F1-E2R) shares the same interface pairing. Projects that call for tactile sensing should instead consider the Inspire Dexterous Left Hand With Tactile Sensors (RH56F1-E2L-T1) and its counterpart, the Inspire Dexterous Right Hand With Tactile Sensors (RH56F1-E2R-T1). Platforms built around CAN FD are better served by the E4L. For alternative designs, the Robot Hands category and the wider Inspire Robots range are the places to compare.

What is the Inspire Dexterous Left Hand (RH56F1-E2L) used for?

1. Bimanual manipulation research: partnering a right hand to study coordinated two-handed grasping and object hand-overs.
2. Humanoid robot development: providing the left end-effector on full-size humanoid prototypes and testbeds.
3. Teleoperation and data collection: mirroring an operator's left hand to record demonstrations for learning-based control.
4. Assembly and fixturing tasks: holding and presenting parts while another manipulator fastens, inserts or inspects them.
5. Force-controlled grasping studies: exploring gentle, measured grips on fragile or deformable objects.
6. Teaching and demonstration: giving robotics students hands-on experience with fieldbus control of an anthropomorphic hand.

Pricing and Availability

Robots Europa supplies the RH56F1-E2L on quotation, so that the configuration, any accessories and the scope of the order are agreed in writing before purchase. Please tell us about your robot platform, controller and intended application, and whether you need mounting adapters, a controller, a power supply or cables, as these are included only when itemised. Delivery, customs and support are arranged together with the quotation. To begin, use the quotation request available on this page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the RH56F1-E2L a left or a right hand?

It is the left hand. The matching right hand with the same EtherCAT and RS485 interfaces is the RH56F1-E2R.

Which communication interfaces does the E2L support?

The E2L configuration uses EtherCAT together with RS485. A left hand with EtherCAT and CAN FD is available as the E4L.

What supply voltage does the hand require?

The RH56F1 operates from 24V–48V. A power supply is included only when it is itemised in your order.

How much force can the fingers apply?

The thumb applies at least 15N at the fingertip and each finger at least 10N, with a force resolution of 0.1N.

What is included in the delivery?

The delivery includes one RH56F1 hand in the ordered configuration. Mounting adapters, a controller, a power supply and cables are supplied only when they are listed in the order.

How quickly does the hand close, and how precisely does it repeat a position?

The RH56F1 closes in ≤0.8s and has a repeatability of ±0.2mm.

Where can I buy the Inspire Dexterous Left Hand (RH56F1-E2L) and what does it cost?

You can buy it from Robots Europa, which supplies customers across the EU and the DACH region. The price depends on the configuration and accessories, so it is set out in an individual quotation that you can request on this page.

Summary

The left hand of a robot rarely performs the headline action, but it decides whether that action succeeds. It holds the workpiece, steadies the tool and adjusts its grip as forces change. The Inspire Dexterous Left Hand (RH56F1-E2L) is designed for that role. An all-metal frame with an integrated skeleton bears 30 kg statically, while force control in 0.1N steps keeps its grip measured. Its 6 degrees of freedom across 12 joints, ±0.2mm repeatability and 1 kHz communication frequency give researchers and integrators a predictable partner for a right hand. EtherCAT with RS485 makes it straightforward to bring up on the bench and to deploy on a real-time network. To match it to your platform and agree the scope of supply with Robots Europa, this page is the starting point.