Allegro MicroSystems, Inc., a global leader in motion control and energy-efficient systems, expands its robotics portfolio with precise position sensors and solutions for 48V power supply architectures. This supports the development of humanoid robots and addresses key hardware requirements of Physical AI: high torque density, efficient thermal management, and functional safety in human-robot collaboration.
Key Innovations at a Glance:
• Integrated 48V Power Management: The Power Management IC (PMIC) A81481 reduces the footprint and hardware costs of the overall system by 50% and enables robotics manufacturers to bring products to market faster.
• Precise Position Detection in High Torque Joints: The inductive position sensors A17802 and A17803 are insensitive to magnetic interference fields and tolerate fluctuations in the mechanical air gap. Additional shielding is not required.
• Precision for Small Joints and Fine Motor Movements: The CT310 XtremeSense™ TMR Angle Sensor and the Hall Effect Angle Sensor A33023 achieve measurement accuracy in the sub-degree range. As semiconductor solutions, they can replace bulky wound resolvers and optical encoders.
"Precise motion control, accurate sensors, and efficient power management are crucial prerequisites for demanding gripping and handling tasks in robotics," explains Harpal J. S. Mandaher, CEO and co-founder of Sarcomere Dynamics Inc. "We are excited about the collaboration with Allegro, where we will integrate the company's advanced motion controllers, sensors, and power ICs into our Scorpion gripper. The collaboration is also set to extend to our next generation ARTUS Dex – a robotic hand with 24 degrees of freedom (DoF) that offers near-human-like gripping capabilities for demanding Physical AI applications."
Integrated 48V PMIC Simplifies Power Supply for Humanoid Robots
Humanoid robots are increasingly relying on 48V architectures to reduce the weight of wiring and resistive losses. At the same time, developers must safely convert the higher voltage to the required supply voltages in confined spaces.
This is where Allegro comes in with the A81481, leveraging its decades of experience from automotive engineering. The 48V PMIC, developed for safety-critical robotic applications, integrates power supply and safety-related control functions on a single chip. It operates directly on the 48V bus, eliminating the need for external pre-regulators.
The A81481 combines two buck converters, five low-dropout outputs (LDO), and ASIL-D capable safety diagnostic functions, including a triple watchdog architecture, in a compact 6 × 6 mm package.
This component is suitable for powering decentralized sensor groups. At the same time, it simplifies the PCB layout and reduces the overall system footprint and bill of materials (BOM) costs by approximately 50%.
Position Sensors with Sub-Degree Accuracy for Fluid, Natural Movements
In high torque joints, such as shoulders, hips, and knees, precise position data is essential for reliable motor control.
The inductive position sensors A17802 and A17803 enable accurate and reliable position detection even under demanding operating conditions. The A17803 is additionally available in a particularly compact QFN package.
Both sensors compensate for fluctuations in the mechanical air gap through integrated compensation and advanced filtering methods. Thanks to their insensitivity to magnetic interference fields, they do not require elaborate additional shielding.
For robotic hands and fingers with particularly limited installation space, Allegro offers the CT310 XtremeSense™ TMR angle sensor and the Hall Effect angle sensor A33023. Both technologies are more resistant to contamination, mechanical shocks, and runout errors that can affect the accuracy of conventional encoders.
The CT310 achieves measurement accuracy in the sub-degree range in a tiny 2 × 2 mm DFN package. The A33023 features low latency, insensitivity to magnetic interference fields, and various digital output options. This makes it suitable for applications with high demands on diagnostic functions and support for functional safety.
"In stationary industrial robots, weight and space are less critical. Thick cables, large external drives, and liquid cooling can be implemented relatively easily there," explains Andreas Friedrich, Senior Director of Technology & Strategy at Allegro MicroSystems. "In contrast, with autonomous humanoid robots with more than 30 degrees of freedom, every gram and every millimeter counts. With the combination of continuous 48V power management, robust motor and gate drivers, and inductive sensors with high interference immunity and compact TMR sensors, we provide developers with integrated components designed for safety requirements. They help maximize torque, manage tight mechanical tolerances, and enable fluid movements."
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