Design World

  • Home
  • Articles
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
  • 3D CAD Models
    • PARTsolutions
    • TraceParts
  • Leadership
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2020 LEAP Awards
  • Resources
    • DIGITAL ISSUES
      • EE World Digital Issues
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • 2020 LEAP Awards
    • MC² Motion Control Classroom
    • Motion Design Guide Library
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
  • Women in Engineering
  • Ebooks / Tech Tips
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • COVID-19

Embedded motion and frameless motors in collaborative robots

By Lisa Eitel | June 3, 2019

Share

Collaborative robots are seeing exponential rise in use. “This trend is a perfect example of the so-called fourth industrial revolution or Industry 4.0 … a term defined by chairman of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab. It’s blurring lines between digital, physical, and biological spheres,” said Jonas Proeger of Trinamic Motion Control.

Some of these robotic designs aren’t much larger than a human limb, which means they have demanding electronics requirements, noted Proeger. Everything must be more cost efficient, because the targeted quantities are much higher … and yet at the same time, these motion components must be exceptionally compact.

This is Trinamic’s TMCM-6214. Featuring SixPoint ramping profiles and multiple encoder inputs, the TMCM-6214 6-axis motor controller/driver board for two-phase stepper motors simplifies the design of robots, industrial automation, and other advanced multi-axis motion control systems.

“So there is no space for six servo-drive boxes besides the robot … or large control cabinet, either. Everything has to be in the arm — ideally, right there in the robot joints,” said Proeger.

Case in point: Elmo Motion Control EtherCAT Gold servo drives mount directly into robot joints on the Siasun Collaborative Robot Coworker. Two small Gold SOLO GUITAR drives power two base-joint motors that support robot’s mechanical structure. Being able to drive the motors with current to 50 A (and peak current to 100 A) lets the drives deliver the power needed for quick moves. Five other Gold SOLO WHISTLE drives run five other joints on the robot.

Frameless torque motors are leading choice for robotic joints

Besides needing compact electronics, collaborative robots also need compact motors for their actuation. “In the area of collaborative robots, we see more OEMs interested in frameless torque motors. They’re also looking for small-diameter motors with high power density,” agreed Allied Motion Technologies systems engineer Jeffrey Shearer.

Collaborative robots use frameless brushless dc motors from BEI Kimco DIP26-08 and DIP30-11 and DIP38-13

The frameless brushless dc (BLDC) motor here is suitable for multi-axis assembly robots in light manufacturing and semiconductor applications. From BEI Kimco of Sensata Technologies, the 2.6, 3.0, and 3.8-in. O.D. motors deliver peak torque loads from 85 to 531 oz-in. Compact size is essential to fitting inside articulating robot wrists, elbows, and shoulder axes. Motor robustness and optimized torque-thermal performance ensures reliable operation in continuous-duty settings.

Similar applications with these design requirements include hip-assist and medical robotics for physical therapy, Shearer added.

“We gained early experience with small robots such as these when developing the drives for the KUKA YouBot back in 2010,” said Proeger. “Going forward, we predict that collaborative robots will drive more demand for affordable and accessible functional safety components … because they are working together with human operators, so must be safe — but aren’t developed by safety specialists. So we predict increasing demand for proven building blocks that make certified functional safety more accessible for developers.”

Others agree on the safety to accompany these designs.

Consider today’s car plants, in which humans and robots are segregated on the plant floor … so for example, machines moving car-frame sections will automatically stop if workers cross set barriers. “In the not-too-distant future, advances in technologies such as machine vision and machine learning will let ever-larger cobots work with humans in these settings,” said Brendan O’Dowd of Analog Devices.

Of course, increasingly capable cobots to handle big loads are strong and more capable of inflicting damage that smaller cobots — and that magnifies the need for safety. But addressing safety for these big cobots can’t be by simple exclusion, noted O’Dowd.

“Cobots tailored to ISO standards certainly satisfy safety requirements, but new functionalities always demand that industry develop new guidelines. For example, cobots can have set speed limits; staying below these limits makes the cobots safe to humans. Key to this functionality are new time-of-flight sensors that include camera systems, RADAR, and LiDAR,” added O’Dowd.

For more details on frameless motors in LiDAR systems, read this story from Lin Engineering. For more information on collaborative robots, visit this library of articles on therobotreport.com.

About Lisa Eitel

Lisa Eitel has worked in the motion industry since 2001. Her areas of focus include motors, drives, motion control, power transmission, linear motion, and sensing and feedback technologies. She has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and is an inductee of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society; a member of the Society of Women Engineers; and a judge for the FIRST Robotics Buckeye Regionals. Besides her motioncontroltips.com contributions, she also leads the production of the quarterly motion issues of Design World.

Tell Us What You Think! Cancel reply

MOTION DESIGN GUIDES

“motion

“motion

“motion

“motion

“motion

“motion

Enews Sign Up

Motion Control Classroom

Design World Digital Edition

cover

Browse the most current issue of Design World and back issues in an easy to use high quality format. Clip, share and download with the leading design engineering magazine today.

EDABoard the Forum for Electronics

Top global problem solving EE forum covering Microcontrollers, DSP, Networking, Analog and Digital Design, RF, Power Electronics, PCB Routing and much more

EDABoard: Forum for electronics

Sponsored Content

  • With virtual commissioning, commissioning time and prototype waste is reduced
  • Master Bond Supreme 10HT High Strength, NASA Low Outgassing Approved Epoxy
  • Optimize, streamline and increase production capacity with pallet-handling conveyor systems
  • Drilling Rig OEM Benefits from a PLC with Edge Computing Technology: IIoT Case Study
  • #1 Reason for Retaining Ring Failure & How to Overcome It
  • Motion controllers: design from scratch or buy ready-made?
Engineering Exchange

The Engineering Exchange is a global educational networking community for engineers.

Connect, share, and learn today »

Tweets by @DesignWorld
Design World
  • Advertising
  • About us
  • Contact
  • Manage your Design World Subscription
  • Subscribe
  • Design World Digital Network
  • Engineering White Papers
  • LEAP Awards

Copyright © 2021 WTWH Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of WTWH Media. Site Map | Privacy Policy | RSS

Search Design World

  • Home
  • Articles
    • 3D CAD
    • Electronics • electrical
    • Fastening & Joining
    • Factory automation
    • Linear Motion
    • Motion Control
    • Test & Measurement
    • Sensors
  • 3D CAD Models
    • PARTsolutions
    • TraceParts
  • Leadership
    • 2020 Winners
    • 2019 Winners
    • 2020 LEAP Awards
  • Resources
    • DIGITAL ISSUES
      • EE World Digital Issues
    • Future of Design Engineering
    • 2020 LEAP Awards
    • MC² Motion Control Classroom
    • Motion Design Guide Library
    • Podcasts
    • Suppliers
    • Webinars
  • Women in Engineering
  • Ebooks / Tech Tips
  • Videos
  • Subscribe
  • COVID-19