Power consumption of robot joints could be 40% less, according to a laboratory study

A study conducted at the UPV/EHU-University of the Basque Country has studied how it is possible to save energy in the propulsion of flexible joints without losing precision

Robots are being increasingly used in industrial processes because of their ability to carry out repetitive tasks in a precise, reliable way. Right now, digital controllers are used to drive the motors of the joints of these robots. And it is no easy task developing and programming these controllers so that they will work efficiently. Unai Ugalde-Olea, lecturer in the Department of Electronics Technology of the UPV/EHU, has analysed a way of propelling these systems or robots in a more energy-efficient way and has shown, on a laboratory level, that in some cases energy consumption can be cut by up to 40%. The study has been published in the journal Control Engineering Practice.

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