“We chose ILM motors because they are unsurpassed in terms of their torque-to-weight ratio.”

Interview with PAL Robotics

 

Customized Robot Solutions for Every Application PAL Robotics chooses Frameless Motors and Integration Expertise from TQ

Kangaroo von PAL Robotics

Kangaroo biped robot by PAL Robotics © PAL Robotics

PAL Robotics is an international robotics manufacturer headquartered in Barcelona and founded in 2004. The robots from PAL robotics support companies and people in over 30 countries worldwide with tasks such as domestic, industrial, healthcare, research and development, and the service sector. PAL Robotics’ platforms stand out as versatile, ready-to-use mobile manipulation solutions designed for easy programming across various applications. With a flexible architecture, these robotic platforms can handle a wide range of tasks by allowing configuration adjustments without requiring specialized solutions for each use case. Modules like grippers and sensors can be easily swapped or added, and the software and user interface are designed to seamlessly integrate into different workflows, maximizing efficiency while maintaining the adaptability of a general-purpose platform.

When PAL Robotics designed their first prototype over 20 years ago, this also marked the beginning of their collaboration with motor manufacturer and electronics specialist TQ. The development team was looking for a suitable brushless motor for the prototypes and found the solution in TQ’s ILM motors. These so-called frameless motors enable very precise position and torque control at both low speeds with high torque and high speeds with low torque. This feature is crucial for the natural, fluid movements that users expect from humanoid robots, which greatly contributes to the acceptance of the technology, particularly in human-robot interaction.

Der TALOS Roboter von PAL Robotics

TALOS humanoid robot by PAL Robotics

Luca Marchionni von PAL Robotics mit einem Roboter

Luca Marchionni with TALOS © PAL Robotics

We opted for ILM motors by TQ, because they are unsurpassed in terms of their torque-to-weight ratio. The available motor sizes and configurations perfectly matched the requirements we had when designing the various joints of our robots – from the ankle to the neck. «

Luca Marchionni, CTO, PAL Robotics

 

 

Today, ILM motors are key components in the performance of many of PAL Robotics' robotic solutions – be it humanoid robots, mobile manipulators, or service robots – due to their precision, efficiency, compact design, and reliability.

Pro Mobile Manipulator TIAGo von PAL Robotics © PAL Robotics

TiaGo Pro mobile manipulator by PAL Robotics

Thanks to the frameless kits, we can reduce mechatronic integration to a minimum and install the components in an extremely space-saving manner, which supports one of our main goals: keeping the volume and weight of our robots as low as possible. An additional advantage of the ILM motors is the large hollow shaft, which allows us to route cable harnesses internally and achieve a clean robot design. «

Luca Marchionni, CTO, PAL Robotics

Humanoider Roboter mit Blick aus dem Fenster

A Glimpse into the Future

The market for humanoid robots is growing rapidly, thanks to new technologies and the increasing acceptance of robots working alongside humans in various sectors. Whether assisting in the home or improving efficiency in the workplace, robots are becoming an integral part of daily life, which means demand will continue to rise. For PAL Robotics, this means continuing to be part of the robotics revolution and establishing themselves as a leader in general-purpose robotics solutions.

PAL Robotics’ next task is to further improve our existing robots and develop new models to meet the changing needs of our customers while simultaneously developing the latest robotics trends in-house. Our goal is to look beyond current technologies and adapt our robots to support even more people in their daily lives. «

Luca Marchionni, CTO, PAL Robotics

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