Logistic robots

These nimble robots provide inventory management and order fulfillment tasks within large warehouse environments. This robot class is typically powered from a 24V to 72V battery source with charging performed on an as-needed basis. With high efficiency and small footprints, Vicor power modules support conversion from up to 75V to usable voltages within the robot to efficiently power all of the mobility, guidance, computing, radio and lighting functions.

Power delivery network for robots using a 67V battery

The first powertrain architecture highlights the PRM power module, a high-performance buck-boost regulator. The PRM creates an intermediate bus of 24V to 48V with 96 to 98% efficiency to power servos and additional downstream power modules, including fixed ratio NBMs, ZVS buck and ZVS buck-boost regulators. All modules can also be paralleled for higher power conversion.

Power Delivery Network for a delivery robot

PRM high-power Buck-Boost regulator

Input: 36 – 75V

Output: 48V

Power: Up to 600W

32.5 x 22.0 x 6.3mm

NBM2317 fixed ratio DC-DC converter

Input: 38 – 60V

Output: 9.5 – 15V

Current: 60A

22.8 x 17.3 x 7.4mm

ZVS Buck regulator

Input: 8 – 36V and 30 – 60V

Output: 1 – 16V

Current: Up to 22A

As small as 7 x 8 x 0.85mm

Power delivery network for robots using a 24 to 48V battery

The second powertrain architecture highlights the use of direct conversion from the battery to the point-of-load. PRM, ZVS Buck, and ZVS Buck-Boost regulators support these applications. One example is the PI3740 ZVS Buck-Boost regulator which provides more than 100W of power from a 10 x 14 x 2.5mm SiP package with peak efficiencies of up to 96%.