Humanoid robots
Design the next giant leap for humanity with Infineon humanoid robot solutions like compact energy-efficent motor control and MCUs with EtherCAT®
With rising labor costs and labor shortages, an aging population, increasing adoption of the AI & IoT trends, and a drop in robotics manufacturing costs, humanoid robots are poised to play a critical role in future of human civilization. Infineon's portfolio of solutions for compact robotics motor control with software support, sensing, connectivity, security, HMI, power distribution, BMS, and more, help you to bring the future to life.
Benefits:
- Software for easier motor control
- Future-proof solutions incl. GaN
- Precise and robust sensors
- Highly-efficient motor control
- Extremely compact motor control
- Increased battery life
- Wide portfolio of solutions
- MCUs with integrated EtherCAT® node
- MCUs designed for motor control
- Huge selection of power packages
- Robust security solutions
- Edge AI-ready MCUs
Flexible power MOSFETs and gate drivers for motor control
When you source your motor control switches from Infineon, you benefit from decades of expertise as well as the broadest portfolio. Choose from a range of power packages, qualifications, voltage classes, classifications, parameters, RDS(on), and more.
Reduce BOM cost and increase power density with the OptiMOS™ 6 40 V dual N-channel MOSFETs in the scalable power block (SPB) format, available in standard or dual side cooling. This technology combines two 5x6 power packages in one, resulting in drastic board space savings.
When space is even more of a factor, such as 24 V motor control in humanoid robot hands, OptiMOS™ dual power MOSFETs 30 V and 40 V in the industry standard 40mm2 SO-8 package are the perfect choice, enabling more flexibility in circuit designs and reducing BOM cost.
Have higher power needs? Look into OptiMOS™ power MOSFETs utilizing the TOLL (TO-Leadless) and TOLT (TO-Leaded with top side cooling) packages. TOLL packaged products feature higher power density, while TOLT products feature excellent thermal performance, therefore minmizing thermal resistance to heatsink.
High efficiency GaN solutions for compact and powerful motor control
Humanoid robots require more motors than any robotics design ever has before. Therefore, single or dual BLDC motor control solutions for humanoid robots must be highly energy efficient and extremely power dense.
GaN-based motor drives combined with FOC and fitting MCUs provide superior efficiency and performance, increased power density, and less motor losses and high-speed switching. This new approach to motor control provides a range of benefits, such as eliminating bulky electrolytic capacitors, reducing size, and increasing reliability. Integrating inverters within the motor chassis eliminates the inverter heatsink while reducing cabling to each joint/axis and simplifying EMC design. Higher control frequency also improves dynamic response. GaN-based motor control designs with high switching frequencies additionally allow for higher power in compact sealed housings, and offer superior performance at high frequencies, further improve system efficiency (inverter and motor losses), and provide lower operating temperatures.
Infineon's GaN solutions for motor control enable designers to flexibly implement simpler, smaller form factor, lighter, and more highly efficient systems.
Powerful MCUs for cutting-edge humanoid robot motor control
Implementing motor control in humanoid robots is a complex challenge. Infineon offers multiple compelling choices for MCUs in this arena.
Due to the large number of systems operating simultaneously in humaniod robots, especially various motors, effective intercommuncation is a necessity. This is where the EtherCAT® protocol comes in with its high-speed, low-latency, deterministic communication capabilities. Infineon's XMC4300 and XMC4800 families of MCUs based on Arm® Cortex®-M4F include, among other features, an integrated EtherCAT® node, meaning there is no need for a dedicated EtherCAT® ASIC, external memory, or quartz clock generator, saving BOM cost and PCB space, both of which are critical design considerations in the humanoids market.
On the other hand, the Infineon PSOC™ Control C3M based on Arm® Cortex®-M33 is a family of MCUs designed specifically for use in motor control. With best in class analog sensing and PWM timers, higher frequency PWM drives are enabled, meaning GaN implementation is unlocked. High sampling frequency also means faster control loops for improved FOC motor dynamic response.
Both solutions feature robust, dedicated IDEs for easier implementation.
Precise and efficient sensor solutions for humanoid robots
In order for humanoid robots to perform complex tasks and remain energy efficient in a world built for humans, a host of sensor systems are required.
Infineon hybrid time-of-flight (hToF) solution allows the humanoid robot to see in a very different way to humans. Combining a single Infineon REAL3™ 3D image ToF sensor with spot and flood illumination, this technology enables the robot to use SLAM (accurate room mapping and smart navigation), avoid obstacles, detect cliffs, and more. This technological leap confers a significant advantage over alternative technologies such as structured light, which grapples with bright sunlight, and stereo vision, which encounters challenges in darkness and with repetitive textures.
Motor operation also requires robust sensors to ensure efficiency and safety. No matter the task, Infineon has the right XENSIV™ sensor for you with our wide portfolio of high bandwidth current sensors, extremely small form factor 3D magnetic sensors, very low current consumption Hall-effect sensors for lower resolution rotor position sensing, and full 360° iGRM-based angle sensors for higher resolution.
BMS solutions to make your humanoid robot safe, secure, and reliable
In the performance of their tasks, humanoid robots are in close proximity to and interacting with humans on a daily basis, including in elder care, manufacturing, and assistance. Therefore, they must be safe, secure, and extremely reliable, while at the same time remaining energy efficient for longer battery life and operating time. Battery packs that are easily swappable and can charge fast are also common considerations.
With a broad portfolio of advanced products, Infineon's solutions for humanoid robot BMS meet these requirements and more.
Ensure true reliability with balancing MOSFETs, protection MOSFETs, and high-side gate drivers when you source BMS protection from the leader in high quality power discretes.
Deliver safety with multi-channel battery monitoring and balancing ICs TLE9012DQU (12-cell) and TLE9018DQU (18-cell) in the TQFP-48 and TQFP-80 packages respectively. Featuring high accuracy voltage measurement, these devices enable reliable and precise battery cell monitoring for highly accurate SoC and SoH.
Commit to safety and security with PSOC™ and XMC7000 low power 40nm MCUs. These MCUs easily handle BMS control tasks and feature built-in security.
Power distribution and management for humanoid robots
Humanoid robots are not only some of the largest robots ever created, but they are also some of the most complicated. With systems running from head to toe, routing the right amount of power to the right place is an important job. This is where Infineon's solutions for power distribution and managment come in, delivering high quality solutions for highly safe and efficient power distribution and management.
Choose from a portfolio of high quality MCUs, LDOs, CAN transceivers, integrated power stages, buck regulator control ICs, SPI power controllers, and digital multiphase controllers to complete your design of this crucial system.
