Infineon Technologies GaN-Based Motor Control for Humanoid Robots

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Humanoid robots are transforming industries, from streamlining manufacturing processes to supporting healthcare professionals in patient care. As these robots are deployed across diverse applications, they demand precise and dependable solutions. A single humanoid robot can feature more than 70 joints and up to 600 power switches, making the choice of power switch technology critical.

Infineon CoolGaN™ transistors deliver advancements for motor control systems in humanoid robots, collaborative robots (cobots), and other robotic applications. Engineered for maximum performance, compact design, and superior energy efficiency, CoolGaN devices provide system-level benefits, helping to redefine what battery-powered, low-voltage motors can achieve.

Infographic - Infineon Technologies GaN-Based Motor Control for Humanoid Robots

Features

Small and light
- Smaller bulk capacitance - capacitance defined in most cases by DC bus ripple, possible usage of only ceramic (smaller ESR)
- Lower overall inverter losses (switching, driver, etc.) allow heatsink size reduction
- Enables integration of drive + motor
Fast and accurate
- Typ. fCtrl_loop ≤ fPWM, resulting in higher control loop bandwidth and faster motor response
- Lower torque ripple enables accurate motion applications

Cool temperature
- Less heat generated thanks to low switching losses
- Lower motor temperature or more output power at the same temperature
- Ideal for temperature-critical designs (touchable surfaces)
Highly efficient
- Fast switching frequency resulting in higher efficiency
- Reduced bus capacitor ESR losses
- Increased battery life