Maxon Motors Powers Humanoid Robot

Maxon was selected to power a humanoid robot named Eccerobot-2, which, built at the University of Zurich's Artificial Intelligence Lab, is designed to mimic human physiology. Built at the University of Zurich's Artificial Intelligence Lab, the Maxon-powered Eccerobot-2 is built around a solid but flexible skeleton, covered with layers of mechanical tendons and muscle. These muscles mimic their human counterparts using an elastic cord attached to Maxon servo motors, which wind or unwind depending on the direction of spin.

This cord is connected to a marine-strength rubber rope, which emulates the elastic nature of natural muscles. Eccerobot's various actuators are powered by 80 Maxon DC motors and it is claimed that the resulting mechanisms are the closest robotics engineers have come to replicating human versatility. Its humanoid design depends upon extremely precise motors, offering high torque in a limited space, and Maxon Motors were selected for the challenging task of keeping the elastic at exactly the right tension and to work against its natural pull.

According to Maxon, the robot's creators were so impressed that they've decided to use Maxon drives, gears and sensors in all humanoid robots that the University of Zurich's AI Lab create from now on. Brushed DC motors, such as those used to drive the innovation in Eccerobot-2, can be found in the Maxon catalogue and on Maxon's website. Customised motors can be designed specifically for applications.

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