The solution: Decentral servo drives mounted directly on the robot
Murrelektronik selected VLT® FlexMotion™ as the motion platform for the project and partnered with Danfoss to develop the concept, and autonox Robotics for support on mechanics. The solution was demonstrated on a 6-axis industrial robot designed for applications such as material handling, assembly, dispensing, and welding.
A key requirement was finding a decentralized servo platform that could be mounted directly on the robot while still providing advanced motion control, functional safety, and open communication. According to Murrelektronik, the Danfoss servo offering stood out by combining these requirements in a single solution.
We evaluated the market for a decentralized servo solution, and the VLT® Integrated Servo Drive ISD® 520 was an excellent fit for our concept. For modern robotic applications, Safe Torque Off alone is not enough. We need advanced safe motion functions that allow us to combine flexibility, productivity, and machine safety.
Although the concept study features an articulated-arm mechanism, the daisy-chain principle truly comes into its own with delta kinematics. From autonox's perspective, the combination of parallel mechanics and drive technology inherent in the daisy-chain principle underscores the clear trend toward decentralized architectures: integrated servo drives, reduced hybrid cabling, and open interfaces enable superior dynamic performance while significantly lowering integration and maintenance requirements.
A strong engineering collaboration
This was not a standard robot installation, but a strategic validation project aimed at demonstrating a new approach to robotics architecture.
Over a six-month period, Murrelektronik, autonox Robotics, and Danfoss combined their respective expertise in decentralized automation, robot mechanics, and motion control to develop a fully operational robotics platform. Close engineering collaboration between the three partners was key to making the concept work in practice.
By uniting our VLT® Integrated Servo Drive ISD® 520 servo drives with the expertise of Murrelektronik and autonox Robotics, we created a revolutionary robotics solution that reduces installation footprint to a minimum. I'm driven by forging powerful partnerships that solve customer problems and redefine what's possible in automation. Together, we're not just selling components; we're delivering the future of machine building.
Related products
VLT® Integrated Servo Drive ISD® 520 combines a high-performance decentral servo motion drive with a servo motor in one compact unit. It is ideal for applications such as turntables, labelling, capping, and packaging in food, beverage, pharmaceutical, metal forming, material handling, and textile industries.
Take a look at VLT® FlexMotion™, designed to meet the requirements of tomorrow’s machine architecture, today. Its modular platform provides you one system capable of creating a diversity of machine concepts.
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