This is the impressive moment a robotic hand grasps objects just like a human.

Scientists at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) have created a robotic hand that can pick up 24 different objects using soft materials and natural-looking movements.

The robotic hand, named ADAPT (Adaptive Dexterous Anthropomorphic Programmable Stiffness), can pick up items without knowing their exact position in space.

Unlike traditional robots that rely on exact programming, ADAPT is made from flexible materials like silicone and uses spring-loaded joints, allowing it to grab objects independently without detailed instructions.

In testing, the ADAPT hand successfully picked up 24 different items with a 93 per cent success rate.

Its movements closely mimicked how a human hand would grip, with a 68 per cent similarity. These natural movements happen automatically, without extra programming.

Experts say the ADAPT hand works using just 12 motors and 20 joints. The rest of its movement control comes from the soft materials and built-in springs.

The robot only uses four leading hand positions to grab things and adjusts its grip based on the shape of each object.

The study, published in Nature Communications Engineering, shows that robots can do complex tasks using flexible materials alone - without needing advanced programming.

Researchers are now working to enhance the ADAPT hand with sensory feedback and artificial intelligence to further improve its ability to handle unpredictable situations in the future.