According to reports, the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center is about to release the first generation of general open humanoid robot ontology.
According to the relevant person in charge of the Beijing Humanoid Robot Innovation Center, the center has been focusing on technical research in the field of humanoid robots. Its goal is to create a common technology platform and public service platform for the entire industry, and to formulate and standardize relevant standards for humanoid robots, so as to promote the rapid development of the entire industry.
After entering 2024, technology giants around the world have successively increased the layout of humanoid robots.
Tesla has released three iterations of the performance update of the humanoid robot Optimus, Google's Mobile Aloha jointly launched by DeepMind and Stanford University has also undergone two iterations, Boston Power has also released a video of the humanoid robot Atlas picking up and carrying car parts, and Figure has successfully sent its humanoid robot to the BMW factory.
Pay attention to [Leqing Industry Observation] and gain insight into the industrial pattern!
At present, with the accelerated iteration of AI and software, hardware supply has become the key to the mass production of humanoid robots.
Compared with industrial robots, the hardware cost structure of humanoid robots is more complex. In humanoid robots, additional sensors and other system integration are required in addition to reducers, servos, and controllers. Taking the hand joints of Tesla's humanoid robot as an example, the main components include the coreless motor, the reducer and the tactile sensor.
Pay attention to [Leqing Industry Observation] and gain insight into the industrial pattern!
Source: Tesla
Coreless motor
The coreless motor is a key component in the hand actuator of Tesla's humanoid robot, accounting for more than 50% of its cost. Each humanoid robot needs to be equipped with up to 12 coreless motors to ensure precise and smooth finger movements.
The innovation of the coreless motor lies in its ironless rotor design, which optimizes the running performance of the motor. By eliminating the space occupied by the core, the coreless motor is able to achieve a more compact size and higher efficiency.
The stator part of the brushless coreless motor adopts the design of coreless winding and cogging core, which combines the advantages of high speed, long life, low noise and high efficiency of traditional brushless DC motor.
As a kind of DC permanent magnet servo motor, the size of the coreless motor is usually not more than 40mm, which belongs to the category of micro and special motors.
At present, the global coreless motor market is mainly dominated by European and American companies, and the main leading manufacturers include Maxon in Switzerland, Faulhaber in Germany, and Portescap in Switzerland.
The domestic coreless motor industry started late, but it has obvious advantages in terms of cost and is expected to continue to benefit in the future mass production process.
At present, the leading manufacturers in the field of motion control in China, Mingzhi Electric, Dingzhi Technology and Topband in the field of intelligent control, as well as manufacturers represented by Flextron Electric, Zhaowei Electromechanical and HCFA Technology, have laid out the coreless motor business and made certain progress.
The main manufacturers of coreless motors in China are sorted out:
Data source: Xingxingcha
reducer
The reducer is an essential component in the transmission system to achieve speed reduction and torque increase. Its core function is to effectively convert the high-speed and low-torque power output by the servo motor into low-speed and high-torque power. This conversion is essential to drive the robot's joints and ensure the smooth and efficient operation of the machinery.
In humanoid robots, harmonic reducer is the ideal preferred deceleration scheme.
The harmonic reducer has significant application advantages in the field of precision reducer with light load, and is especially suitable for the use of robot small joints.
The core technology of harmonic reducer covers the design of harmonic tooth shape, the design and forming process of flexible wheel, and the processing technology of wave generator.
Tesla Optimus rotary actuators use harmonic reducers in multiple parts such as shoulder joints, wrists, and waists.
Since the introduction of harmonic transmission technology to Continental in 1961, Continental has made continuous breakthroughs in research and application in this field. In 1962, the mainland successfully developed the first harmonic reducer, and then the domestic harmonic reducer enterprises led by green harmonic began to invest heavily in research and development, and gradually realized industrialization.
The planetary reducer is also one of the core components of the humanoid robot, which together with the servo motor and controller form the drive unit of the mobile robot. The transmission efficiency of the precision planetary reducer is high, which can ensure the stability and accuracy of the robot in the process of moving.
Its structural features include a fixed internal ring gear and a sun gear driven by external power, as well as planetary gears in between. These planetary gears are arranged in equal parts on the planetary carrier by means of needle rollers, which achieve efficient power transmission and deceleration.
At present, the pattern of the mainland planetary reducer industry is relatively scattered, and the head domestic manufacturers include Zhongda De, Kefeng Intelligence, Newstdart, etc.
Tactile sensors
Tactile perception plays an important role in the generalization and intelligence of humanoid robots.
In the future, accurate tactile perception of the body will be a key part of humanoid robots' ability to interact safely in dynamic and unstructured environments.
Similar to the human body, the density of tactile receptors in humanoid robots varies in different parts. Sort from high to low, fingers, wrists, shoulders, knees, thighs, etc.
In general, the higher the density of tactile receptors, the stronger the corresponding tactile demand.
By simulating the distribution and function of human tactile receptors, humanoid robots can perceive the external environment more realistically and achieve precise operation and interaction.
BioTactile sensors for dexterous hands:
Source: BioTac
Flexible tactile sensors are a relatively new field, and many multinational groups and start-ups are paying attention.
At present, the high-end production capacity of this market is mainly occupied by foreign manufacturers, forming a relatively concentrated market pattern.
Globally, the leading players in the flexible tactile sensor market include Novasentis, Tekscan, Japan Display Inc. (JDI), Baumer, Fraba, and others, which together account for nearly 60% of the market share.
In the field of robotics + electronic skin, manufacturers are mainly start-ups, and most of their technologies come from well-known universities. For example, XELA Robotics and Pasini's technology originated from Waseda University in Japan, while Syntouch's technology originated from the University of Southern California in the United States. #机器人##人形机器人##科技##财经##人工智能#
In the domestic market, Hanwei Technology, Shenhao Technology, Keli Sensing, Const, Ligan Technology, TacSense Technology, Guangzhou Puhui Technology, Huiwen Technology and other enterprises are also accelerating the layout of flexible tactile sensors.
Pay attention to [Leqing Industry Observation] and gain insight into the industrial pattern!