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Stepper motors made to handle harsh environments

The new, high-torque AW stepper motors from Applied Motion Products are an ideal choice for exposure to splash, moisture, and dust in Food Processing, Medical, and Industrial Manufacturing applications. These NEMA 23/24/34 motors feature IP65-level protection, and their M8 and M12 connectors ensure a secure connection in high-vibration dynamic systems. Variants equipped with brake and 1,000-line optical encoder are available.
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Compact gantry system for high dynamics

Rollon's new compact and highly versatile H-Bot gantry system meets the needs of applications requiring a small footprint and a high level of efficiency. It boasts two fixed motors on the X-axis with a single belt, motorized via pulleys and easily tensioned. The option of mounting the motors on either the front or rear heads, upwards or downwards, gives H-Bot extreme versatility. The absence of a motor on the Y-axis significantly reduces moving masses, decreasing vibrations and allowing high dynamics to be achieved. Designed to handle light loads that require a high level of precision.
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Cobot 7th axis with collision detection turbocharges multitasking

Do you need to move a cobot assembly from one task location to another? Thomson Industries' new Movotrak CTU 7th axis features collision detection settings for expanded programming and control benefits. Also known as a range extender, the Movotrak CTU 7th axis features a servo motor and linear-unit-driven guide rails that move a cobot assembly. An industrial robot transfer unit has also launched.
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How do you drive multiple motors with a single VFD?

According to KEB Automation, lots of automation systems use multiple motors to distribute loads, execute different tasks, or to optimize overall efficiency. One control strategy is to use a single variable frequency drive (VFD) for each motor, or you can drive several motors with only one VFD. But when do you use which tactic, and what are the pros and cons of each? Matt Sherman from KEB has got you covered with all the details.
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Frameless BLDC motors for maximum system integration

Nanotec introduces the DKA series of high-performance, frameless BLDC motors designed for compact, efficient drive systems. Featuring a modular design with separate stator and rotor, these motors allow for a maximum level of system integration. Motor diameters from 25 to 115 mm are available with up to 7.8 Nm of torque and speeds to 10,000 rpm. By eliminating the need for couplings or additional mounting components, these frameless motors reduce material usage and assembly costs. Ideal for applications with limited space, including robotics, medical technology, and more.
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Servo controllers: From basic fans to advanced robots

Implement your most innovative ideas by combining maxon's ESCON2 servo controllers and the user-friendly Motion Studio software. ESCON2 controllers use the latest technology in semiconductor and PCB manufacturing to achieve unprecedented power density and control performance in terms of torque and speed. ESCON2 controllers can be used in a wide variety of applications -- from simple analog/digitally commanded standalone applications such as fans, scanners, and pumps to sophisticated CANopen-based systems in AGVs, hand tools, or logistics and transport applications. Three ESCON2 Modules available.
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Safety Wheel Drive simplifies payload mobility

IDEC has expanded its ez-Wheel product family with the new SWD Safety Wheel Drive for automated guided vehicles (AGVs) and autonomous mobile robots (AMRs). This system combines wheels, gearboxes, motors, encoders, controllers, and power systems into singular, extremely compact, and maintenance-free solutions, reducing component count up to 50%. Available in light/medium (SWD 125) or heavy-duty (SWD 150) models. When integrated with other safety devices, such as IDEC SE2L laser scanners or bumper/edge switches, the SWD can provide Safe Brake Control, Safely Limited Speed, and Safe Direction with a SIL2/PLd rating. A SIL3/PLe safe motor disconnection is also integrated.
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Vertical lift stage features sub-micron resolution

Optimal Engineering Systems has released the AT20-30 series of Motorized Vertical Lift Stages featuring sub-micron resolution, very high parallelism, and a vertical lift of 30 mm. The AT20-30-01 is driven by an ultra-precise two-phase stepper motor with a full step resolution of 0.2 microns! This stage also has a knob on the motor for manual adjustment. Features a large 500 mm x 300 mm stage table and high load capacity. Also available as a complete plug-and-play system with a motion controller, drivers, keypad, and joystick.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Tech Tip: Using a step motor as a generator

Engineers at Applied Motion Products run through their lab testing procedures and results when a client requested guidance on connecting a step motor to a small gas engine for use in recharging a 12-V battery. An interesting technical walkthrough on the project and its results.
Read the full Applied Motion Products article.

Rugged high-accuracy hexapod for industrial 6-axis alignment applications

The H-815 6-Axis Hexapod from PI is a low-profile, ruggedized, highly accurate positioning and alignment system designed for continuous 24/7 operation in demanding industrial motion applications such as camera lens alignment (automotive, cell phones etc.), micro-assembly, aerospace test and assembly, micro-LED production, fiber optic alignment, aerospace test and assembly, and more. It provides 6-DOF -- X, Y, Z, pitch, roll, and yaw -- to deliver exceptional flexibility. Load capacity is 22 lb.
Learn more and get all the specs.

Long-life electric actuators: Improved controllability, performance

Thomson Electrak LL Linear Actuators now offer your machine designs a higher speed option, more electronic control options (including CANopen), and a 48-V option to meet the power requirements in battery-powered applications. Thomson says the new Electrak LL choices are for those who want to gain more control over the position, load, and speed of their applications, such as smart railway pantographs and couplers, AGVs, automated farming robots, movable steps, and access lifts for trains and buses.
Learn more and get the specs.

New high-payload vacuum gripper automatically adjusts to box size

The powerful and robust new VGP30 vacuum gripper from OnRobot is capable of handling up to 30 kg (66 lb) and is designed to excel at palletizing boxes and handling irregular shapes and porous surfaces -- even those constructed from cost-saving, thinner cardboard. It automatically adjusts to any box size or interlayer, optimizing air consumption and reducing energy costs. This unit is ready for immediate deployment out of the box and includes all the hardware and software needed for all leading robot brands. Lots more features.
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Go inside the revolutionary GAM GPL Robotic Flange Gearbox

GAM's new GPL Series Robotic Planetary Gearbox combines the lowest backlash (<0.1 arcmin) and high tilting rigidity with vibration-free motion for smooth, controlled path motion in robotics and motion control applications. Its patented design guarantees backlash will not increase over the lifetime of the gearbox, so no future adjustments required! Many more benefits.
View the video.

Revamped Step By Step tool to configure Galil motion controllers

Galil introduces its revamped Step By Step tool for Galil Design Kit. Now with enhanced functionality and a new user interface, this tool allows first-time users to configure Galil motion controllers. Along with the existing ability to configure brushed and brushless servos, users are now able to configure steppers, set up serial-type and sine-cosine encoders, and tune axes -- all within the new Step By Step tool.
Learn more and check it out.

Stepper drives detect stalls in open-loop control mode

Automation-Direct has added the new Titanio series of stepper drives from Ever Motion Solutions. These drives offer peak performance, a rich feature set, and work seamlessly with AutomationDirect SureStep^® stepper motors. Three new drives are available with two open-loop (no encoder feedback) models and one open/closed-loop version (a motor-mounted encoder provides position feedback to the drive). Unlike typical stepper drives, Titanio steppers can detect stalls in open-loop control mode by monitoring the motor's back EMF. This allows system designers to take advantage of stall detection without the hassle and expense of a closed-loop system.
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11 consecutive years: Toyota is tops in automotive U.S. patent ranking

For the 11th consecutive year, Toyota has secured more patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) than any other automotive company, according to the annual report by the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO). Toyota also remains in the top 10 among all patent recipients with 2,428 U.S. patents in 2024.

Toyota's innovation led to patents in dozens of areas this past year including cybersecurity, driver assist technology, edge computing, electric and fuel cell vehicles, mobility as a service, manufacturing, materials, robotics, telematics, and V2V/V2X connectivity.

"Toyota is evolving into a mobility company, and the breadth and depth of our patent acquisitions exemplify the wide range of invention that is taking place at our company," said Sandra Phillips, senior vice president, Enterprise Integrity, chief sustainability officer and chief legal officer at Toyota Motor North America. "It's a collective effort from every part of Toyota including contributions from North America R&D, Toyota Research Institute, Toyota Connected, Woven by Toyota, and our manufacturing centers."

"Toyota takes a strategic approach to patent filing, ensuring that we are building a portfolio of core technology and supporting future goals and objectives," said Fred Mau, Intellectual Property (IP) counsel and director of Patent Licensing for Toyota IP Solutions. "We are securing a tremendous amount of new IP in growth areas of electrification, new materials, and autonomous driving."

Patents issued to Toyota in 2024 include:

• LiDAR Reflective Fabric: LiDAR-based obstacle detection and avoidance systems, most commonly used on autonomous vehicles, have historically not had effective visibility of black-colored items due to their lack of reflectivity. Toyota previously received a patent for a proprietary black pigment based on copper oxide nanocrystals that enable detection by LiDAR. Now, this pigment has been integrated into textiles that can be used in clothing, bags, and apparel for improved LiDAR detection safety. INVENTORS: Michael P. Rowe, Songtao Wu, Debasish Banerjee, Charles R. Rutledge, Torin C. Peck, and Michael Jones.
• Transport Energy Transfer using Real-time Cost Information: An electric vehicle (EV) with bi-direction power transfer capability is a useful source of distributed energy for the electric power grid. The power grid is not homogenous, and local supply-vs.-demand imbalances are reflected in real-time electricity pricing at different locations at different times of the day. A bi-directional EV can charge and discharge power from/to the grid taking advantage of these local price differences. However, it becomes very difficult for the EV owner to track pricing and make decisions of when, where, and how much energy to charge or discharge. Toyota has developed a method to automate the tracking of this information and use it to optimize and recommend the time, location. and amount of energy to charge and discharge for maximizing the energy value without impacting the mobility needs of the EV. This method is applicable to both commercial fleet vehicles as well as individual, privately owned vehicles. INVENTORS: Norman Lu and Maximilian Parness.
• Systems and Methods for Managing Cooperative Maneuvering Among Connected Vehicles: In order for automated vehicles to make future traffic more efficient, they will have to work together by sharing their future plans through wireless communications. Depending on the traffic situation and the type of maneuver, an automated vehicle may ask different surrounding vehicles to cooperate. Toyota has created methods to select which vehicles are best to cooperate to produce more efficient and smoother flowing traffic. INVENTORS: Sergei S. Avedisov, Yashar Zeiynali Farid, and Onur Altintas.
• Modular Fuel Cell System Architecture and a Control System for Distributing Power to the Modules: Hydrogen fuel cell systems represent an important technology for Toyota's multi-pathway approach for reducing carbon emissions. Toyota is evolving this technology with a new architecture and control system that optimizes power distribution for maintaining efficiency, durability, drivability, and/or safety of the system. This equalizes power draw on the battery and can extend battery life. INVENTORS: Christopher M. Bulpitt, Daniel Charles Folick, Jared Farnsworth, Andrew Sata, Arlo C. Eitzer, Laura E. Bower, Daniel K. Lim, Jonathan J. Sander, Luke A. Rippelmeyer, Scott A. Friedman, and Takehito Yokoo.

The top patent procurer for 2024 overall was Samsung.

See the full list of USPTO top patent owners at https://ipo.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2024-Top-300-Patent-Owners-List.pdf (Note: This is a PDF chart). See more USPTO resources at https://ipo.org/index.php/resources/.

Source: Toyota

Published April 2025

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