A Look at the Technology Driving New Robots

A Look at the Technology Driving New Robots
Emerging robot technology is automating tasks in manufacturing, medical, military, and aerospace. But what’s driving the advances in robotics? In this ebook, we’ll look under the hood to unravel the technology that is transforming the capability of robots, from new capabilities in motors, miniaturization, vision systems, electronic components, and sensors. Sponsored by Maxon privacy policy

A Must Have Book for Design Engineers
Complete with illustrations, formulas, and explanations for the calculations concerning drive systems, this comprehensive collection is yours FREE! Download Today! Sponsored by Maxon privacy policy

The Factory Of The Future
Digitization and automation will completely change the way we develop and produce products. But what exactly does that mean? And what is behind the terms commonly used to refer to the smart factory? Get maxon’s latest issue of driven to find out more.

Smallest Encoder On The Market
A brushless DC motors with speeds of up to 50,000 rpm and a matching ENX 4 magnetic incremental encoder. Easily combined with a gearhead optimized to achieve longer uptimes. Designed for use in medical technologies.

High Efficiency Motors
To understand the concept of high efficiency motors, you must first know how to calculate efficiency and the losses associated with the motor components themselves.

DC Motor Selection for Dynamic Motion Control Applications
Finding the right motor is one of the core elements in the selection of dynamic drive components. Due to their high starting torque maxon DC motors with or without brushes are the perfect matches for highly dynamic servo applications. Once the requirements of the application are specified and a general motion control strategy is established, there are a few rules to be respected to get the optimum motor.

Comparing Spur versus planetary gearheads
The two most common and most readily available gearhead designs are spur and planetary gearheads. Each has its own benefits and drawbacks depending on what your particular application may require.

Choosing the Right Drive Technology
Coming up with the right drive technology for your application often depends on the options before you. Here are five of the most common drive configurations being used today, along with their benefits and drawbacks.

maxon introduces a multi-axis controller for highly dynamic positioning tasks
maxon is launching the next generation of Motion Controllers with its MiniMACS6-AMP-4/50/10. The controller is ideal for use in applications where PLC solutions may be too expensive or cannot meet customer-specific requirements.

5 challenges an electric motor has to overcome on Mars
Outer space is unforgiving. This is why precision drives embarking on a trip to other planets need to meet extremely high-quality standards. Every Mars drive from maxon is based on a catalog product and is modified for the specific mi...

How to design an exoskeleton
An exoskeleton must be lightweight, compact, powerful, reliable, and easy to use – what could be easier? Many developers around the world dabble in this discipline with different degrees of success. Christian Bermes, head of the VariLeg enhanced team e...

Smart ArM: Pushing the limits of the human body
In view of the Cybathlon 2020, a unique international competition for competitors with disabilities who use bionic assistive technologies, a team of French researchers from the Institute of Intelligent Systems and Robotics (ISIR) in Paris has developed...

Trap the trash
A spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne (EPFL) has been given responsibility for a EUR 100 million project by the European Space Agency, ESA. ClearSpace SA now heads a consortium developing the first debris removal mission...

IP65, IP67, IP68…What do protection ratings mean?
If you are working on a project that calls for an electric motor unit, you will certainly have come across the terms IP65, IP67 and IP68. What do these protection ratings cover? Which protection should be chosen based on your project? Here's a brief an...

maxon develops ultra-efficient UAV drive with startup Flybotix
maxon has collaborated with drone startup Flybotix to develop performance-optimized brushless DC motors for a new kind of inspection drone. With the know-how gained from this and other projects, maxon is making inroads into the new UAV market, where th...

«driven» takes a look at the fourth planet
Our fascination with Mars is stronger than ever, again and again, researchers are drawn to it. At this very moment, yet another robot mission is on its way to uncover the secrets of Mars. This mission will also involve the first helicopter flight in sp...

Drive technology and design freedom
While the development of e-commerce requires the design of compact AGVs, the democratization of autonomous and connected e-mobility vehicles poses safety challenges. In other sectors, it is becoming essential to propose a specific design in order to of...

maxon and ANYbotics enter into a strategic partnership
Drive specialist maxon, renowned for its Mars motors, is joining forces with the robotics startup ANYbotics and will in future supply the drive systems of the autonomous ANYmal inspection robot. The robot will soon be marketed in large quantities. T...

Moving beyond physical barriers
Robert Riener, the initiator of the Cybathlon, shares his thoughts on how technology can be used to address sensitive issues.

COVID-19: drive technology and physical distancing
The sanitary crisis linked to the diffusion of Covid-19 requires everyone to apply measures of social distancing. Motorized and automated solutions are being developed at high speed as a solution. This article gives an overview of innovations that rein...

maxon drives on the Red Planet
More than 100 electric motors from maxon have been used on the Red Planet and have withstood cosmic radiation, dust storms, and temperature fluctuations. With the Perseverance rover, precision drives are once again flying to Mars. The key to success is...

maxon drives are heading to the Red Planet with NASA’s Perseverance rover
In July, NASA will be sending its fifth rover to Mars. Its main mission is to collect soil samples that will be analyzed on Earth at a later time. The rover will also carry a helicopter that will perform the first flights on the Red Planet. maxon's...

New miniature drives for medical robots and multi-axis systems
maxon is once again expanding its range of configurable drives with more brushless DC motors, gearheads, and encoders from the ECX series. There is also news on positioning controllers in the micro segment.

New maxon product: miniaturized controller
maxon is launching a new, miniaturized controller with a size of only 32 mm x 22 mm as part of its successful line of positioning controllers. The attractive price-performance ratio, with a functionality that’s virtually identical to the larger units, ...

The Cybathlon special issue magazine is now available
At Cybathlon pilots will be navigating obstacle courses with the aid of assistance systems as they battle for victory. maxon has devoted a special magazine to this event and asks: Where is the development of prosthetic devices heading? How do you bu...

CYBATHLON and maxon: Getting ready for round two
At CYBATHLON, people with physical disabilities compete against each other in exciting races—supported by state-of-the-art technical assistance systems. There are new challenges for the contestants and the engineers in all disciplines. As a Presenting ...

maxon is flying to the Sun
In February, Solar Orbiter will start its mission to provide scientists with new data about the Sun. Swiss research and engineering have played a significant role in the construction of the space probe – including drives from maxon.The European Space A...

“driven” explains the factory of the future
Digitization and automation will completely change the way we develop and produce products. But what exactly does that mean? And what is behind the terms commonly used to refer to the smart factory? This issue of driven – the maxon motor magazine – ...

maxon launches additional EtherCAT motion controllers
The EPOS4 product family is now complete. With the EPOS4 series, maxon is offering a reliable and extremely versatile platform of high-performance motion controllers. It addresses the needs of system integrators and fulfills the requirements of a varie...

Exoskeleton Joint Actuator
Reliable, Powerful, Efficient

A powerful and cost-effective drive
The brushless EC-i 30 motor from maxon motor.

How e-mobility will change our world
The new issue of driven is out! It's a silent revolution. However, it can't be stopped: People are increasingly using electrical power for personal transportation and for moving goods, creating new requirements for drive technology.

The miniature servo controller for extreme conditions
New: maxon ESCON Module 50/8 HE

High Torque Brushless DC motor
Redesigned for even greater performance.

maxon motor introduces the first sterilizable drive system
Brushless DC motor, gearhead, and encoder from one single source.

A perfect drive solution in only a few steps.
New, Speed motors and controllers from maxon.

Configure high-speed drives from your sofa

Electric drives – invisible helpers in our everyday lives.
driven magazine reveals where they are commonly used.

EPOS4 position controller
Compact power for your motion control application. The EPOS4 position controllers are suitable for efficient and dynamic control of brushed DC motors and brushless BLDC motors (EC motors) with Hall sensors and encoders up to 750 W continuous power...

The ultra-fast brushless DC motor
The new ECX motors are fast, sterilizable and configurable. maxon motor launches new high-speed motors that are configurable online. The new ECX brushless motors are quiet and feature very high efficiency. These brushless drives are ideal for use ...