With the advancement of artificial intelligence and the integration of increasingly sophisticated sensors and control algorithms, robots are becoming smarter. They can now autonomously perform complex tasks such as movement, grasping, and object localization. Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) are currently gaining popularity in various industries including manufacturing, healthcare, logistics, and warehousing. This article will introduce the architecture and development of AMRs, as well as the relevant solutions provided by Arrow Electronics in collaboration with partners such as STMicroelectronics (ST) and onsemi.
Autonomous Mobile Robots are driving the development of Industry 5.0
AMRs refer to robots capable of independently understanding their environment and moving within it. Unlike their predecessors, Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs), which rely on tracks or predefined paths and often require operator supervision, AMRs operate autonomously.
AMRs offer several advantages, such as increased efficiency, reduced labor costs, and improved safety. They can transport goods, move items between workstations, and perform quality control tasks during manufacturing processes. Additionally, AMRs are suitable for applications in healthcare, logistics and warehousing, agriculture, retail, food services, and hospitality industries. With technological advancements, AMRs are expected to witness further innovation and practical applications in the future.
Currently, the rapid development of AMRs in industrial applications presents significant market opportunities, particularly in conjunction with the trending concept of Industry 5.0. Industry 5.0 represents not only a technological upgrade from Industry 4.0 but also a new industrial philosophy emphasizing human-machine collaboration. It emphasizes the seamless integration of human creativity with machine efficiency to achieve higher levels of production quality and work efficiency.
Unlike Industry 4.0, which primarily focuses on machines and data analytics, Industry 5.0 takes a step further by highlighting the synergy between human creativity and machine efficiency. It emphasizes the harmonious coexistence of humans and machines, with humans working alongside advanced technologies and AI-driven robots. This collaboration can enhance workplace processes and flexibility, leading to reduced labor costs and improved work quality. As increasingly intelligent AMRs emerge, they will play a crucial role in human-machine collaboration within the framework of Industry 5.0.
Robots perceive the physical world through sensors
As AMRs become increasingly intelligent and capable of interacting and collaborating with humans, the number of technologies involved also increases, including motion, machine vision, autonomous navigation, sensing, and connectivity. Designing AMRs involves various essential components, such as brushless DC motors, sensors, power supplies, lighting, and communication. Due to space limitations, the following will focus primarily on sensors.
In AMR applications, sensors play a crucial role. Through sensors, robots can perceive the physical world, assess environmental data such as objects, distances, and directions, and combine algorithms to determine movement direction and speed, avoid obstacles, and find the optimal path. Sensors serve as vital senses for AMRs.
With the continuous development of sensor technology, new advancements enable AMRs to navigate in complex environments and interact with their surroundings with higher accuracy and precision. AMRs use various sensors to meet different sensing requirements, such as image sensors, LiDAR systems, position sensors, and Visible Light Communication (VLC) drivers.
Image sensors and image signal processors are used for visual perception, allowing robots to detect and identify objects and navigate in their environment. LiDAR systems are utilized for 3D mapping and obstacle avoidance, enabling robots to navigate in complex environments.
Position sensors measure the rotation of the robot's wheels or other moving parts, enabling accurate tracking of its position and orientation in 3D space. Ultrasonic and infrared sensors measure distances to objects, allowing the robot to detect obstacles and avoid collisions. VLC drivers use visible light to transmit data, enabling communication between robots and other devices, including other AMRs and human users. Below are some newly introduced advanced sensors for your consideration and reference.
Advanced accelerometer and distance sensors from STMicroelectronics
The ISM330DHCX, introduced by STMicroelectronics, is a system-in-package device featuring high-performance 3D digital accelerometers and 3D digital gyroscopes tailored for industrial applications. This MEMS sensor module series from STMicroelectronics is manufactured using specialized micromachining processes, while the IC interface is developed using CMOS technology, allowing for the design of dedicated circuits that can be fine-tuned to better match the characteristics of the sensing element. In the ISM330DHCX, the sensing element for the accelerometer and gyroscope are implemented on the same silicon die, ensuring excellent stability and robustness.
The accelerometer in the ISM330DHCX offers full-scale acceleration ranges of ±2/±4/±8/±16 g, while the gyroscope offers a wide angular rate ranges of ±125/±250/±500/±1000/±2000/±4000 dps, making it suitable for various applications. The ISM330DHCX has been optimized for all design aspects and calibration, achieving extremely high precision, stability, ultra-low noise, and full data synchronization.
The ISM330DHCX features a set of unprecedented embedded functionalities, including machine learning core, programmable FSM, FIFO, Sensor Hub, event decoding, and interrupts. These capabilities drive the realization of smart and complex sensor nodes while providing high performance at very low power consumption. The ISM330DHCX is packaged in a 14-lead plastic land grid array (LGA) package.
For distance measurement, STMicroelectronics' new VL53L8CX is a high-performance, low-power 8x8 multi-zone Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensor that operates effectively in ambient light conditions while enhancing performance. This sensor, based on STMicroelectronics' FlightSense technology, can provide precise distance measurements of up to 400 cm and features a 65° diagonal field of view (FoV).
The VL53L8CX integrates a powerful new generation VCSEL (Vertical Cavity Surface Emitting Laser) along with two advanced metasurface lenses. The hardware is packaged within an innovative "all in one" module, enabling its suitability for a wider range of high-performance applications such as low-power system activation, gesture recognition, robot SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping), liquid level monitoring, and more.
Using STMicroelectronics' patented algorithms, the VL53L8CX can detect and track multiple targets within its FoV, with 64-zone depth measurement capability. STMicroelectronics' histogram ensures robustness against glass crosstalk immunity of over 60 cm. Like all ToF sensors based on STMicroelectronics' FlightSense technology, the VL53L8CX can measure absolute distances unaffected by target color and reflectance. Additionally, the VL53L8CX supports SPI and I²C interfaces, ensuring high frame rates and short boot times.
The VCSEL of the VL53L8CX emits completely invisible infrared light at 940 nm, which is certified as Class 1, making it safe for the eyes. With the VL53L8CP, scene overview and multizone detection are possible due to the customizable detection array, which enables fast and low-power detection of human presence. This type of detection is referred to as minidepth map.
onsemi's new rotary position sensors and image sensors
On the other hand, onsemi has introduced the NCS32100 industrial rotary position sensor, which offers a full featured controller and sensor interface. When paired with a printed circuit board sensor, it enables high-resolution and high-accuracy angle sensing. The NCS32100 features flexible configuration capabilities, allowing connection to various inductive sensor patterns and providing various digital output formats. Compared to traditional position sensor solutions, inductive sensing technology offers unique advantages, including but not limited to temperature insensitivity, mechanical simplification, and insensitivity to contaminants.
The NCS32100 supports a 2.5MHz UART interface for connecting to half-duplex RS-485 drivers. It supports a full-scale maximum speed of 6000 rpm and a maximum functional rotor speed of up to 45000 rpm. It operates within a voltage range of 2.7V to 5.5V and supports battery backup for multi-turn count tracking. The sensor interface offers highly configurable capabilities with up to 8 channels, and it can report internal device temperature through programmable over-temperature thresholding and backup battery voltage through programmable low battery thresholding.
The NCS32100 has an external main data acquisition command response time of 3µs and a full operating current of 80mA. It supports self-calibration functionality and features a 20-bit position resolution, 24-bit multi-turn resolution, and latency cancellation function. The NCS32100 can be applied in industrial automation, robotics/collaborative robots, angular position and velocity sensing, servo control, and other fields. The final product are encoder modules.
onsemi offers a complete and diverse lineup of image sensor products, among which the AR0822 CMOS image sensor is based on 2.0 µm pixel and features an 8-megapixel (MP) stacked 1/1.8-inch (8.81 mm diagonal) BSI (back-side illuminated) CMOS digital image sensor. It has a 3840 (H) x 2160 (V) active pixel array, capable of playing 4K video at 60 frames per second (fps), and capturing images with a rolling shutter readout in either linear or eHDR mode (120 dB), providing excellent video performance.
The AR0822 can rapidly capture 3840 x 2160 video at full resolution at 30 frames per second (fps) in 3 exposures, with embedded high dynamic range (eHDR) up to 120 dB. It supports eHDR reconstruction on advanced sensors with flexible exposure ratio control and offers two exposure line Li-HDR output. It features Wake-on-Motion capability and extended dynamic range (eDR), and intelligent linearization to minimize motion artifacts and LED flicker. The AR0822 can be applied in areas such as security and surveillance cameras, robotics, and vehicle dashboard cameras.
Conclusion
AMRs are becoming increasingly important across various industries, and their success depends on carefully selecting and designing ideal technologies to optimize their performance and ensure they meet specific application requirements. With the rapid development of sensor technology, AMRs are becoming more complex and powerful, capable of executing more sophisticated tasks with higher efficiency and accuracy, thereby expanding their application areas. The new sensors introduced in this article will help customers rapidly develop AMRs. For more details, please feel free to contact Arrow directly.