Cobots

Design the next generation of collaborative robots with the highest level of functional safety, motor efficiency, connectivity, and compliance

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Overview

Cobots are designed to work alongside humans—which means safety, efficiency, and intelligence are non-negotiable. Infineon provides a comprehensive portfolio of semiconductors and sensor solutions that meet the most stringent industry safety standards, including ISO TS 15066, empowering engineers to build collaborative robots that are smarter, safer, and more connected than ever.

Benefits

  • Highest power density motor drive
  • Higher payload in smaller size
  • Operational cost savings
  • System cost and space savings
  • Safety by 3D environment scanning
  • Less downtime
  • Secure robot operation/auth.
  • Encrypt on-the-wire or on-the-air
  • Complies with ISO TS 15066

Block diagram

About

What are the key components for safer, smarter cobots?

Collaborative robots demand more than other robots: they must operate safely near humans, connect to the IoT, perform with precision, and meet strict regulations. Infineon covers every aspect of cobots, supporting supply chain streamlining while accelerating time to market.

Key system-level benefits:

  • Higher power density motor drives: CoolGaN™ HEMTs enable a smaller inverter footprint with lower losses and lower operating temperatures, enabling integration of the control box directly into the robot's foot, eliminating the external control box entirely
  • Operational and system cost savings: efficient motor drive solutions from OptiMOS™ and MOTIX™ reduce heat dissipation and overall energy consumption, lowering total cost of ownership
  • Safety by design: XENSIV™ sensors maximize safety during human-robot collaboration, reducing downtime through intelligent obstacle detection
  • Secure robot operation: OPTIGA™ Trust security ICs provide encrypted on-the-wire and on-the-air communication, device authentication, and IP protection for safeguarded software updates
  • Regulatory compliance: solutions designed to conform to ISO TS 15066, the governing safety standard for collaborative robots
The factory of the future is smart
Industry 5.0 is just around the corner
How can efficient BLDC motor control optimize cobot movements?

Accurate motor control is crucial for cobots to deliver smooth, responsive, and reliable motion. Using BLDC motors, cobots can perform precise, repeatable movements while maintaining safety. Infineon’s solutions ensure high control fidelity and reduced mechanical wear.

Key product combinations and their system benefits:

  • PSOC™ Control C3M MCU + MOTIX™ 6EDL7141 gate driver + OptiMOS™ MOSFETs: Delivers high-frequency, low-ripple motor drive with dedicated ADCs optimized for WBG switching. The ModusToolbox™ Motor Suite provides a ready-to-use software ecosystem, reducing firmware development time
  • MOTIX™ IMD701A: Combines an XMC1404 MCU with the 6EDL7141 three-phase gate driver in a single package, reducing BOM count and PCB area in space-constrained joint modules
  • CoolGaN™ HEMTs in the inverter stage: Enables smaller inverter footprint, lower switching losses, and lower operating temperature—directly supporting the goal of assembling the control box within the robot's base
  • XENSIV™ TLI/TLE position and current sensors: Provide the precise rotor position and current feedback required for smooth field-oriented control (FOC), reducing torque ripple and improving move accuracy
Real time control with PSOC™ Control MCUs
Discover MOTIX™ motor control solutions
How can cobots achieve safety and industrial I/O reliability?

In collaborative robotics, safety is not optional. Cobots share workspaces with people, which means every layer of the control architecture, from microcontroller to I/O interface, must support reliable, deterministic operation.

Safety-oriented MCUs:

  • PSOC™ 4, PSOC™ 6, and XMC™: Dual-core architectures and hardware security for safety and HMI control aligned with industrial standards

Industrial I/O with isolation:

  • ISOFACE™ output switches: Products like ISO1H81xG are EMI-compliant with IEC 61131-2, enabling easy integration with MCUs
  • ISOFACE™ digital inputs: Products like ISO1I81xT feature Galvanic isolation that protects control logic from industrial noise

System-level benefit:

This combination of safety MCUs and isolated I/O enables cobot designers to build control architectures that integrate cleanly with existing industrial infrastructure without compromising EMI compliance or functional safety margins.

Explore XMC™ industrial microcontrollers
Infineon isolated industrial interface solutions
How can HMI and wireless connectivity improve cobot integration?

Cobots increasingly require intuitive operator interfaces, remote monitoring, and seamless IoT integration. Our HMI and connectivity portfolio enables responsive touchscreens, reliable wireless links, and secure data transmission, all from a unified product ecosystem.

HMI control:

PSOC™ 4/6 MCUs with CAPSENSE™ technology: Deliver best-in-class capacitive touch sensing for operator panels and teach pendants. The dual-core architecture of PSOC™ 6 supports simultaneous HMI processing and connectivity management, reducing the need for additional components

Wireless connectivity:

AIROC™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combo ICs and modules: Offer the industry's best RF performance and interoperability, supporting Wi-Fi 4/5/6 and Bluetooth® LE for real-time cobot monitoring, remote configuration, cloud-connected analytics, and BLE AoA/AoD support for cobots that require location awareness within a shared workspace

System-level benefit:

Combining PSOC™ 6 with AIROC™ connectivity provides a compact, low-power solution for cobots that need both a responsive operator interface and reliable wireless data exchange, supporting remote control, predictive maintenance, and fleet management use cases.

Control with PSOC™ 4 & 6 MCUs
Connect with AIROC™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combos
What sensing technologies improve cobot safety and awareness?

Collaborative robots must perceive their environment accurately and react to it in real time. Our  sensor portfolio covers the full range of sensing requirements—from joint position and motor current to 3D spatial awareness.

Environmental and safety sensing:

  • REAL3™ ToF solutions: Enable 3D environmental scanning for obstacle detection, collision avoidance, and safe human-robot proximity monitoring. Intelligent cooperation between robot and human reduces unplanned stops and improves overall uptime
  • XENSIV™ 24 GHz and 60 GHz radar sensors: Provide reliable motion and distance detection across a wide detection range, supporting workspace monitoring even in challenging lighting or dust conditions

Motor and motion sensing:

  • XENSIV™ angle sensors: Deliver the precise current feedback and rotor position data required for accurate torque control and smooth joint motion
  • XENSIV™ pressure sensors: Supports height and touch sensing in applications where physical interaction detection is required

Together, these sensing solutions give cobots the perception capabilities needed to operate safely alongside people—without sacrificing throughput or system responsiveness.

XENSIV™ sensors: Sense everything
XENSIV™ sensors: Sense everything
What power solutions ensure efficient and reliable cobot performance?

Efficient, reliable power delivery is foundational to performance in collaborative robotics. Our power supply portfolio enables compact AC-DC conversion, precise voltage distribution, and high-efficiency motor drive—with the option to eliminate the external control box by integrating power electronics directly into the robot's base.

Key products:

  • CoolMOS™ or CoolSiC™ switches and PWM/PFC controllers: High-efficiency AC-DC stages with reduced heat and component count
  • EiceDRIVER™ gate drivers + OptiMOS™/CoolGaN™ switches: High-speed switching for efficient motor drives and compact designs
  • Infineon load switches, LDOs, and regulators: Manage power for MCUs, sensors, and communication modules

System-level benefit:

Infineon's end-to-end power portfolio, from AC input to motor drive output, enables cobot designers to optimize efficiency across the full power chain, reducing operational costs, minimizing thermal management requirements, and supporting the compact, integrated designs that collaborative robotics demands.

Infineon CoolMOS™ MOSFETs 500 - 950 V
Infineon CoolSiC™ SiC MOSFETs

What are the key components for safer, smarter cobots?

Collaborative robots demand more than other robots: they must operate safely near humans, connect to the IoT, perform with precision, and meet strict regulations. Infineon covers every aspect of cobots, supporting supply chain streamlining while accelerating time to market.

Key system-level benefits:

  • Higher power density motor drives: CoolGaN™ HEMTs enable a smaller inverter footprint with lower losses and lower operating temperatures, enabling integration of the control box directly into the robot's foot, eliminating the external control box entirely
  • Operational and system cost savings: efficient motor drive solutions from OptiMOS™ and MOTIX™ reduce heat dissipation and overall energy consumption, lowering total cost of ownership
  • Safety by design: XENSIV™ sensors maximize safety during human-robot collaboration, reducing downtime through intelligent obstacle detection
  • Secure robot operation: OPTIGA™ Trust security ICs provide encrypted on-the-wire and on-the-air communication, device authentication, and IP protection for safeguarded software updates
  • Regulatory compliance: solutions designed to conform to ISO TS 15066, the governing safety standard for collaborative robots
The factory of the future is smart
Industry 5.0 is just around the corner

How can efficient BLDC motor control optimize cobot movements?

Accurate motor control is crucial for cobots to deliver smooth, responsive, and reliable motion. Using BLDC motors, cobots can perform precise, repeatable movements while maintaining safety. Infineon’s solutions ensure high control fidelity and reduced mechanical wear.

Key product combinations and their system benefits:

  • PSOC™ Control C3M MCU + MOTIX™ 6EDL7141 gate driver + OptiMOS™ MOSFETs: Delivers high-frequency, low-ripple motor drive with dedicated ADCs optimized for WBG switching. The ModusToolbox™ Motor Suite provides a ready-to-use software ecosystem, reducing firmware development time
  • MOTIX™ IMD701A: Combines an XMC1404 MCU with the 6EDL7141 three-phase gate driver in a single package, reducing BOM count and PCB area in space-constrained joint modules
  • CoolGaN™ HEMTs in the inverter stage: Enables smaller inverter footprint, lower switching losses, and lower operating temperature—directly supporting the goal of assembling the control box within the robot's base
  • XENSIV™ TLI/TLE position and current sensors: Provide the precise rotor position and current feedback required for smooth field-oriented control (FOC), reducing torque ripple and improving move accuracy
Real time control with PSOC™ Control MCUs
Discover MOTIX™ motor control solutions

How can cobots achieve safety and industrial I/O reliability?

In collaborative robotics, safety is not optional. Cobots share workspaces with people, which means every layer of the control architecture, from microcontroller to I/O interface, must support reliable, deterministic operation.

Safety-oriented MCUs:

  • PSOC™ 4, PSOC™ 6, and XMC™: Dual-core architectures and hardware security for safety and HMI control aligned with industrial standards

Industrial I/O with isolation:

  • ISOFACE™ output switches: Products like ISO1H81xG are EMI-compliant with IEC 61131-2, enabling easy integration with MCUs
  • ISOFACE™ digital inputs: Products like ISO1I81xT feature Galvanic isolation that protects control logic from industrial noise

System-level benefit:

This combination of safety MCUs and isolated I/O enables cobot designers to build control architectures that integrate cleanly with existing industrial infrastructure without compromising EMI compliance or functional safety margins.

Explore XMC™ industrial microcontrollers
Infineon isolated industrial interface solutions

How can HMI and wireless connectivity improve cobot integration?

Cobots increasingly require intuitive operator interfaces, remote monitoring, and seamless IoT integration. Our HMI and connectivity portfolio enables responsive touchscreens, reliable wireless links, and secure data transmission, all from a unified product ecosystem.

HMI control:

PSOC™ 4/6 MCUs with CAPSENSE™ technology: Deliver best-in-class capacitive touch sensing for operator panels and teach pendants. The dual-core architecture of PSOC™ 6 supports simultaneous HMI processing and connectivity management, reducing the need for additional components

Wireless connectivity:

AIROC™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combo ICs and modules: Offer the industry's best RF performance and interoperability, supporting Wi-Fi 4/5/6 and Bluetooth® LE for real-time cobot monitoring, remote configuration, cloud-connected analytics, and BLE AoA/AoD support for cobots that require location awareness within a shared workspace

System-level benefit:

Combining PSOC™ 6 with AIROC™ connectivity provides a compact, low-power solution for cobots that need both a responsive operator interface and reliable wireless data exchange, supporting remote control, predictive maintenance, and fleet management use cases.

Control with PSOC™ 4 & 6 MCUs
Connect with AIROC™ Wi-Fi and Bluetooth® combos

What sensing technologies improve cobot safety and awareness?

Collaborative robots must perceive their environment accurately and react to it in real time. Our  sensor portfolio covers the full range of sensing requirements—from joint position and motor current to 3D spatial awareness.

Environmental and safety sensing:

  • REAL3™ ToF solutions: Enable 3D environmental scanning for obstacle detection, collision avoidance, and safe human-robot proximity monitoring. Intelligent cooperation between robot and human reduces unplanned stops and improves overall uptime
  • XENSIV™ 24 GHz and 60 GHz radar sensors: Provide reliable motion and distance detection across a wide detection range, supporting workspace monitoring even in challenging lighting or dust conditions

Motor and motion sensing:

  • XENSIV™ angle sensors: Deliver the precise current feedback and rotor position data required for accurate torque control and smooth joint motion
  • XENSIV™ pressure sensors: Supports height and touch sensing in applications where physical interaction detection is required

Together, these sensing solutions give cobots the perception capabilities needed to operate safely alongside people—without sacrificing throughput or system responsiveness.

XENSIV™ sensors: Sense everything
XENSIV™ sensors: Sense everything

What power solutions ensure efficient and reliable cobot performance?

Efficient, reliable power delivery is foundational to performance in collaborative robotics. Our power supply portfolio enables compact AC-DC conversion, precise voltage distribution, and high-efficiency motor drive—with the option to eliminate the external control box by integrating power electronics directly into the robot's base.

Key products:

  • CoolMOS™ or CoolSiC™ switches and PWM/PFC controllers: High-efficiency AC-DC stages with reduced heat and component count
  • EiceDRIVER™ gate drivers + OptiMOS™/CoolGaN™ switches: High-speed switching for efficient motor drives and compact designs
  • Infineon load switches, LDOs, and regulators: Manage power for MCUs, sensors, and communication modules

System-level benefit:

Infineon's end-to-end power portfolio, from AC input to motor drive output, enables cobot designers to optimize efficiency across the full power chain, reducing operational costs, minimizing thermal management requirements, and supporting the compact, integrated designs that collaborative robotics demands.

Infineon CoolMOS™ MOSFETs 500 - 950 V
Infineon CoolSiC™ SiC MOSFETs

Documents

Documents

Design resources

Developer community

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