The increasing automation always brings a greater desire for simplifying the manufacturing of robots and enhancing their reliability. Hence, new solutions are emerging in the market, which could contribute to the faster development of robots. The combination of power supply and communication through the same conduits is a novelty in robotic systems, which also means that the number of such solutions is still small and consequently expensive. In the RLS Development and Innovation Laboratory, we have decided to develop our own module that would compete with the current solutions at a significantly lower price.
The module operates with the help of an 8-bit microcontroller, which, despite its low cost, offers immense flexibility, which is crucial for the creation of such a system. The work describes the course of development, from the selection of components to the operation of power supply and communication. Based on the initial requirements, the results describe the methods for testing and some optimizations for improving operation. A comparison between the requirements and the first implementation of the module is added at the end.
The developed module is currently at a stage where it can already compete with other solutions in the market. Certain functionalities, which would increase its value, are not yet implemented. Thus, there is still some room for additional research and optimization of operation.
|