From Hands to Metal: Who Won the “Sapper’s Hands” Innovation Marathon and Secured a Green Light for Contracting

Initiated by the Ukrainian Demining Cluster in partnership with the National Technical University of Ukraine "Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute," the “Sapper’s Hands” Innovation Marathon took place from April to June at Ukraine’s dedicated R&D hub for mine action technologies.

The marathon became a unique platform for developers, engineers, and startups working together to create innovative robotic solutions for humanitarian demining. Participants went through a challenging journey — from concept to functional prototype — showcasing technologies that can save the lives of deminers and make mine clearance faster and safer.At the core of the challenge were robotic hands — remotely operated manipulators capable of handling explosive devices from a safe distance. Each one represents an alternative to human hands in the most dangerous situations.

After several weeks of development, testing, and technical challenges, the winners of the Marathon have been announced — three teams whose solutions received the highest scores and are now moving into the implementation phase.At the Security 2.0 exhibition, the teams presented:
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№1 – Team “KRYUK-1”, Kyiv region
Lightweight Micromanipulator Arm for Precision Operations
-Arm reach: 600–800 mm
-Payload capacity: 2–5 kg
-Onboard power: 12–24 VThe team received funding to produce 10 prototypes (cost per unit — $600).
The solution is already ready for integration with mobile platforms and ground-based drones.

№2 – Team “GRIPPER”, Kamianske
6-Axis High-Precision Robotic Arm
– Payload capacity: up to 5 kg
– Reach: 1000–1500 mm
– Degrees of freedom: 6
– Working range: up to 1200 mm
– Fully compatible with mobile platformsThe team secured a contract to produce 5 units (cost per unit — $2,300).
This is a Power-class solution designed for complex technical tasks and remote operations in hazardous environments.
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№3 – Team “PIRAT”, Zaporizhzhia
Heavy-Duty Robotic Arm
– Payload capacity: 10–15 kg
– Scaling: first 3 units already in production
– Unit cost: $3,000
– Awarded a contract for 3 prototypesThis system is built to handle large and heavy objects and can be integrated into heavy engineering machinery for demanding field operations.

Thank you to all the participants for your bold ideas, technical bravery, and unwavering commitment to making demining in Ukraine safer.These are the very technologies shaping the future of humanitarian engineering and recovery today.