High-Bandwidth Magnetic Position Sensor Use Case: Precision Robotics

USE CASE

 

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In this use case, we will consider the application of the MA600 for precision robotics.

With its high accuracy, high resolution, and high bandwidth, the MA600 closely competes with optical encoders and provides a superior alternative to existing Hall-based angle position sensors on the market.

Each motor in a robot’s joint requires a sensor for precision angle control. As companies increasingly automate their warehouses with collaborative robots (cobots) and robots, designers face challenges with precision motion control, faster control loops, high cost, and space. While optical encoders offer high precision, they are 7 to 10 times more expensive compared to magnetic sensors and have a large form factor. Similarly, magnetic angle position sensors fall short on precision and bandwidth.

MPS has developed the MA600, a precision, high-bandwidth magnetic position sensor for motion control. The MA600 achieves performance closer to optical encoders with an ultra-low error smaller than 0.1 degrees after user calibration. In the sensor’s front end, the magnetic field is detected using tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) bridges that reach a new level of sensitivity and low noise.

The MA600 achieves 14.8 bits of resolution at 150Hz bandwidth or 12.5 bits at 13kHz bandwidth, which effectively supports fast loop control. With its high accuracy, high resolution, and high bandwidth, the MA600 closely competes with optical encoders and provides a superior alternative to existing Hall-based angle position sensors on the market.

Additional features include:

• Ultra-low 0.5° error (factory) that can reach <0.1° after user calibration with internal 32-point lookup table
• 12-bit to 14.8-bit ±3σ configurable absolute angle encoder
• No latency minimizes speed errors
• Wide 20mT to >100mT magnetic field range
• Supports end-of-shaft (on-axis) and side-shaft (off-axis) mounting configurations
• SPI or SSI for digital angle readout and chip configuration
• Incremental ABZ quadrature encoder interface with configurable pulses per turn from 1 to 4096
• Incremental UVW encoder output
• Pulse-width modulation (PWM) absolute output
• Multi-turn or speed output option
• 3.3V supply voltage, 7mA quiescent current (I_Q)
• -40°C to +125°C operating temperature
• Available in a small QFN-16 (3mmx3mm) package

For more information, explore MPS’s robust selection of sensors.