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Danfoss Enables Decentralized Servo Control for Flexible, Compact Robotic Automation
Danfoss servo technology helps Murrelektronik reduce cabinet space and cabling while enabling flexible, scalable motion control for robotic automation.
www.danfoss.com
6-axis industrial robot driven by the VLT® Integrated Servo Drive ISD® 520
Application areas: Robotic automation, motion control
Industry sectors: Machine building, industrial automation
Murrelektronik, a global provider of automation and installation technology, focuses on developing decentralized system architectures for industrial applications. As machine builders seek flexible alternatives to traditional cabinet-based robot setups, the company initiated a project to extend its Vario-X automation platform into robotics. The operational goal was to establish a decentralized automation architecture that integrates robotic functions directly into the field level, providing a modular design reference for system integrators.
Variants of the VLT® Integrated Servo Drive ISD® 520 are integrated into the robotic arm
Addressing Centralized Wiring Limitations
Industrial robot systems conventionally rely on centralized architectures where the robot controller and servo drives reside within a control cabinet. This traditional approach requires dedicated power and feedback connections for each motor, leading to complex wiring layouts and long cable runs between the remote drives and the motors. Such configurations demand significant cabinet space, increase installation effort, and restrict the structural flexibility required for modular machine designs. To overcome these constraints, Murrelektronik required a motion control solution capable of direct installation on a robot arm while maintaining high mechanical precision, functional safety, and robust communication.
Illustration of the VLT® FlexMotion system architecture used in the robotic arm: a single VLT® Power Supply Module PSM 520 with an integrated Decentral Access Module (DAM) option board powers all decentralized servo drives via daisy chain cabling
Integrating Motion Control on the Robot Arm
For this application, Murrelektronik selected Danfoss motion control technology, specifically utilizing integrated servo drives alongside power supply units and decentralized access modules. The solution was implemented on a 6-axis industrial robot intended for material handling, assembly, dispensing, and welding tasks, with mechanical and commissioning support provided by autonox Robotics.
The selected integrated servo drive combines the motor and drive into a single compact unit mounted directly on the robotic axes. This hardware selection allowed Murrelektronik to implement a daisy-chain wiring configuration, simplifying power and data transmission across the machine. The technology was chosen because it provided the necessary high-precision dynamic motion control and integrated safety brakes, while its open communication framework supported multiple industrial protocols. Furthermore, the drive components utilize silicon carbide modules to optimize thermal efficiency and performance in a compact footprint.
The decentralized automation architecture combines the Vario-X unit from Murrelektronik with servo drives from Danfoss mounted directly on the robotic arm.
Engineering Validation and System Results
The deployment involved a six-month engineering collaboration among Murrelektronik, Danfoss, and autonox Robotics. The joint effort validated a fully operational robotics platform, moving beyond standard installation procedures to test a decentralized approach. By shifting the servo drives from the central cabinet directly to the robot arm, the implemented architecture achieved a 60 percent reduction in the control cabinet footprint. Additionally, the daisy-chain cabling strategy decreased overall cable length by up to 80 percent, lowering material costs and simplifying the machine's physical layout. Seamless integration with Murrelektronik's programmable logic controller environment accelerated the commissioning phase, resulting in a scalable blueprint for original equipment manufacturers transitioning to decentralized machine designs.
Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
www.danfoss.com
Application areas: Robotic automation, motion control
Industry sectors: Machine building, industrial automation
Murrelektronik, a global provider of automation and installation technology, focuses on developing decentralized system architectures for industrial applications. As machine builders seek flexible alternatives to traditional cabinet-based robot setups, the company initiated a project to extend its Vario-X automation platform into robotics. The operational goal was to establish a decentralized automation architecture that integrates robotic functions directly into the field level, providing a modular design reference for system integrators.
Variants of the VLT® Integrated Servo Drive ISD® 520 are integrated into the robotic arm
Addressing Centralized Wiring Limitations
Industrial robot systems conventionally rely on centralized architectures where the robot controller and servo drives reside within a control cabinet. This traditional approach requires dedicated power and feedback connections for each motor, leading to complex wiring layouts and long cable runs between the remote drives and the motors. Such configurations demand significant cabinet space, increase installation effort, and restrict the structural flexibility required for modular machine designs. To overcome these constraints, Murrelektronik required a motion control solution capable of direct installation on a robot arm while maintaining high mechanical precision, functional safety, and robust communication.
Illustration of the VLT® FlexMotion system architecture used in the robotic arm: a single VLT® Power Supply Module PSM 520 with an integrated Decentral Access Module (DAM) option board powers all decentralized servo drives via daisy chain cabling
Integrating Motion Control on the Robot Arm
For this application, Murrelektronik selected Danfoss motion control technology, specifically utilizing integrated servo drives alongside power supply units and decentralized access modules. The solution was implemented on a 6-axis industrial robot intended for material handling, assembly, dispensing, and welding tasks, with mechanical and commissioning support provided by autonox Robotics.
The selected integrated servo drive combines the motor and drive into a single compact unit mounted directly on the robotic axes. This hardware selection allowed Murrelektronik to implement a daisy-chain wiring configuration, simplifying power and data transmission across the machine. The technology was chosen because it provided the necessary high-precision dynamic motion control and integrated safety brakes, while its open communication framework supported multiple industrial protocols. Furthermore, the drive components utilize silicon carbide modules to optimize thermal efficiency and performance in a compact footprint.
The decentralized automation architecture combines the Vario-X unit from Murrelektronik with servo drives from Danfoss mounted directly on the robotic arm.
Engineering Validation and System Results
The deployment involved a six-month engineering collaboration among Murrelektronik, Danfoss, and autonox Robotics. The joint effort validated a fully operational robotics platform, moving beyond standard installation procedures to test a decentralized approach. By shifting the servo drives from the central cabinet directly to the robot arm, the implemented architecture achieved a 60 percent reduction in the control cabinet footprint. Additionally, the daisy-chain cabling strategy decreased overall cable length by up to 80 percent, lowering material costs and simplifying the machine's physical layout. Seamless integration with Murrelektronik's programmable logic controller environment accelerated the commissioning phase, resulting in a scalable blueprint for original equipment manufacturers transitioning to decentralized machine designs.
Edited by Natania Lyngdoh, Induportals Editor, with AI assistance.
www.danfoss.com
