The proposal aims to address several design challenges in advanced robotic systems, including torque density, thermal management, space constraints, and functional safety in human-robot collaborative applications. Key components include the A81481 power management circuit, the A17802 and A17803 inductive sensors, the CT310 TMR magnetoresistive sensor, and the A33023 Hall-effect angular sensor.

These solutions are aimed at both high-torque joints, such as shoulders, hips and knees, and compact robotic hand and finger mechanisms.

A81481: 48V Power Management in a Single Integrated Circuit.
One of the key products in this expansion is the A81481, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC) designed for 48V robotic architectures. Adopting this voltage in humanoid robots reduces wiring weight and resistive losses, although it also necessitates converting the power supply to lower voltages within confined spaces. The A81481 receives power directly from a 48V bus, eliminating the need for external pre-regulators.

The device integrates two buck regulators, five low-dropout (LDO) outputs, and safety diagnostic functions compatible with applications requiring ASIL-D capabilities. Its monitoring mechanisms include a triple watchdog architecture.

All these elements are housed in a 6 × 6 mm package. According to Allegro, this integration allows for an approximately 50% reduction in both the total space occupied by the system and the bill of materials (BOM) costs, in addition to simplifying the printed circuit board design. The component is intended, among other applications, for powering distributed sensor arrays in robotic systems.

A17802 and A17803 Inductive Sensors for High-Torque Joints.
For joint actuators such as shoulders, hips, and knees, Allegro offers the A17802 and A17803 inductive position sensors. These devices are designed to provide reliable position measurements in motor control environments with demanding mechanical and electromagnetic conditions. Both incorporate immunity to stray magnetic fields, eliminating the need for additional shielding. They also integrate compensation and filtering to maintain operation despite variations in the mechanical clearance between the sensor and the measuring element.

The A17803 is also available in an ultra-compact QFN package version, designed for applications with greater space constraints. These features aim to facilitate precise control of robotic joints without increasing the mechanical complexity of the drive assemblies.

CT310 TMR and A33023 Hall Effect Sensors for Robotic Hands and Fingers
For smaller joints, such as those used in robotic hands and fingers, Allegro highlights the CT310 XtremeSense TMR and A33023 Hall effect angular sensors. Both provide position measurement using solid-state technology and are designed as alternatives to traditional wound resolvers and optical encoders. The CT310 uses tunneling magnetoresistive (TMR) technology and offers sub-degree angular accuracy in a 2 × 2 mm DFN package.

The A33023, for its part, incorporates low latency, immunity to stray magnetic fields, and various digital output options. These features are designed for applications requiring robust diagnostics and support for safety functions. According to Allegro, both sensors offer greater resistance to factors such as contamination, mechanical impacts, and rotational deviations that can affect other encoding technologies. Their small size facilitates integration into robotic mechanisms where space is limited.

Collaboration with Sarcomere Dynamics on Robotic Handling Systems:
Allegro has also highlighted its collaboration with Sarcomere Dynamics, a company specializing in robotic handling systems. Both companies are working on integrating Allegro's motion controllers, sensors, and power circuits into the Scorpion robotic gripper.

Harpal JS Mandaher, CEO and co-founder of Sarcomere Dynamics, notes that precise motion control, position sensing, and efficient energy management are fundamental to advanced robotic manipulation. The collaboration also includes its expansion to ARTUS Dex, a next-generation robotic hand with 24 degrees of freedom (DoF). According to Sarcomere Dynamics, this development is aimed at providing near-human dexterity for advanced physical artificial intelligence applications.

Compact Components for Humanoid Robots with More Than 30 Degrees of Freedom:
Andreas Friedrich, Senior Director of Technology and Strategy at Allegro MicroSystems, highlights the differences between the requirements of stationary industrial robots and autonomous humanoids. In conventional industrial installations, space and weight allow for the use of larger-gauge wiring, bulky external drives, and liquid cooling systems. However, in humanoid robots with more than 30 degrees of freedom, the dimensions and mass of each component become more critical.

The combination of 48V power management, motor and gate controllers, stray-field-immune inductive sensors, and compact TMR sensors is designed to facilitate designs with higher torque density and smoother movements. Allegro also offers these solutions as functional building blocks ready for integration into robotic architectures with safety requirements.

Allegro provides information for the A17802 and A17803 inductive sensors , the CT310 TMR angle sensor , the A33023 Hall sensor , and the A81481 PMIC through its robotics components catalog. The company also offers sample information and evaluation support to facilitate the integration of these devices into new designs.
on samples and evaluation tools

Technical details and development resources are available on the Allegro Robotics Building Blocks page.