21 October 2026 | News
Image Courtesy: Public Domain
Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. a global leader for motion control and energy-efficient systems, is expanding its robotics portfolio with precision sensing and 48V power architectures to address key hardware challenges in physical AI, including torque density, thermal management, and functional safety for human-robot collaboration.
Key Portfolio Innovations Include:
“Precise motion control, accurate sensing, and efficient power management are fundamental to advanced robotic manipulation,” said Harpal J.S. Mandaher, CEO and co-founder of Sarcomere Dynamics Inc. “We’re proud to partner with Allegro to integrate their advanced motion controllers, sensors, and power ICs into our Scorpion gripper and are on track to extend this collaboration to our next-generation ARTUS Dex – a 24-degree-of-freedom (DoF) robotic hand that delivers near-human dexterity for advanced physical AI applications.”
Single-Chip PMIC Simplifies and Shrinks 48V Robotic Power Design
As humanoid designs adopt 48V architectures to reduce cabling weight and minimize resistive losses, engineers face the challenge of safely stepping down higher voltages within tight enclosures. Leveraging decades of automotive engineering experience, Allegro’s A81481 addresses this directly. As a single-chip 48V PMIC engineered for safety-critical robotics, it delivers complete system power and safety regulation directly from a 48V bus, eliminating the need for external pre-regulators.
By integrating dual buck regulators, five low-dropout (LDO) outputs, and ASIL-D-capable safety diagnostics (including a triple-watchdog architecture) into a 6x6 mm compact package, the A81481 powers remote sensing clusters while simplifying board layout and cutting total system footprint and BOM costs by roughly 50%.
Sub-Degree Precision for Fluid, Natural Motion
For high-torque actuators like shoulder, hip, and knee joints, the A17802 and A17803 inductive position sensors provide accurate and reliable position measurement in demanding motor control environments. The A17803 is also available in an ultra-compact QFN package, and both sensors deliver reliable operation under varying air gaps through on-chip compensation and advanced filtering, while built-in stray-field immunity eliminates the need for expensive shielding.
For the tighter mechanical constraints of robotic hands and fingers, Allegro’s CT310 XtremeSense™ TMR and A33023 Hall-effect angle sensors offer greater resilience to contamination, mechanical shock, and runout that can degrade traditional encoder technologies. The CT310 delivers sub-degree accuracy in a 2x2 mm DFN package, while the A33023 adds low-latency, stray-field immunity, and multiple digital output options for applications requiring robust diagnostics and functional safety support.
“In fixed industrial robots, weight and space are less constrained because thick cables, large external drives and liquid cooling are practical,” said Andreas Friedrich, Senior Director of Technology & Strategy at Allegro MicroSystems. “But in autonomous humanoids with 30-plus degrees of freedom, every gram and millimeter matters. By combining true 48V power management, robust motor and gate drivers, stray-field-immune inductive and compact TMR sensors, we give robotics engineers integrated, safety-ready building blocks to maximize torque, manage tight tolerances, and enable fluid motion.”
Availability
For more information about the A17802 and A17803 QFN package variant inductive position sensors, the CT310 TMR angle sensor, the A33023 Hall-effect angle sensor, and the A81481 PMIC, including samples and evaluation support, visit Allegro Robotics Building Blocks. Attendees at electronica 2026 can also see Allegro’s latest robotics power and sensing solutions at Hall C6, Booth 129.
