You might recognise this handy robot from Global Eye in issue one. It debuted at the food machinery and technology exhibition in Tokyo and uses a combination of very few metal parts and compressed air to handle delicate objects.

Built by Kyoto-based factory automation firm Squse, the hand is constructed of a polycarbonate skeleton covered by a soft silicone skin. It has 22 pneumatically powered “muscles” that give it a range of 20 different movements, ranging from a firm handshake to a gentle pinch with two fingers.

It’s actually designed for harvesting and packing delicate foodstuffs rather than hand feeding the bone idle, we can’t help thinking of the skutters from Red Dwarf whenever we see it!