Engineers unveiled a bionic hand that replicates human-like gripping in Maryland.

Researchers from Johns Hopkins University developed the prosthetic, which adjusts its grip to prevent crushing delicate objects.

The device combines soft rubber-like polymers with a rigid 3D-printed skeleton to mimic the human hand's balance of firmness and flexibility.

Unlike previous robotic hands, it incorporates three layers of tactile sensors inspired by human skin to differentiate textures.

Biomedical engineer Sriramana Sankar, behind the invention, said: 'The goal was a natural prosthetic that feels like a real limb. We want amputees to hold loved ones without worry.'

Forearm muscles control the hand and use machine learning to translate touch into nerve-like signals.

In tests, it successfully grasped 15 objects, ranging from stuffed toys to metal bottles, with 99.69 per cent accuracy.

It picked up a fragile plastic cup of water using three fingers without causing damage.

Sankar described the system as a hybrid design that adjusts its firmness based on the object it holds.

Professor Nitish Thakor, who led the project, said the hand provides sensory feedback similar to the human nervous system.

He said: 'If a coffee cup slips, your brain gets the signal. Our hand does the same.'

The Department of Defence funded the technology.

Thakor added: 'It's not just for prosthetics. Future robots need this dexterity for glass, fabric, or toys—mimicking our skin, tissue, and bones.'

Human and animal-like robots are being developed in several countries, with China and the United States leading the 'tech arms race'.

A military-style robot dog was even seen protecting President-Elect Donald Trump in Florida earlier this month.

Eccentric billionaire Elon Musk, who played a prominent role in Trump's recent U.S. election victory, recently presented Optimus, describing it as a multi-functional assistant capable of handling household chores, playing with children, and assisting with various repetitive tasks.