Needle-threading robotic hands impress at Zhongguancun Forum

LinkerBot, a Beijing-based embodied intelligence company, impressed visitors with its dexterous robotic hands at the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum.

A visitor interacts with the humanoid robot at LinkerBot's booth during the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum, March 25, 2026. [Photo by Chen Xinyan/China.org.cn]

The company's embodied intelligence platform, built around its dexterous hands and cloud intelligence, took the top prize at the ninth Zhongguancun International Advanced Technology Competition Final on March 26.

Its flagship Linker Hand L20 can thread a needle with consistent stability and precision, a feat the company says signals a broader shift from laboratory research to real-world deployment.

The L20 is equipped with high-precision, multi-modal sensors and 20 degrees of freedom, allowing it to closely replicate the sensitivity of human touch.

The Linker Hand by LinkerBot threads a needle during the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum. [Photo courtesy of the 2026 Zhongguancun Forum]

"Dexterous hands serve as the key universal end effectors for robots, handling 80% of their functions. Without them, even the most advanced AI cannot create value in the real world," said Zhang Yanbai, co-founder of LinkerBot.

Since its founding, the company has focused not only on building robotic hands but also on carrying forward traditional Chinese craftsmanship through robotics technology.

"We are not just building hands — we are cultivating skills," said Zuo Jiaping, another co-founder of the company. "We aim to integrate these dexterous robotic hands into factories and homes, serving diverse industries and communities."