NEC and Nidec develop technology to control robots equipped with Intelligent Motors

NEC Corporation (NEC; TSE: 6701) and Nidec Corporation (Nidec; TSE: 6594; OTC US: NJDCY) announces the successful joint development of a technology that enables highly precise, real-time remote control of Intelligent Motors (*1), motors incorporating microcomputers through a wireless network.

As utilization of the Internet of Things (IoT) accelerates, there is greater need for robotic equipment to communicate and work together cooperatively in the growing robotics industry. In consideration of this demand, NEC and Nidec have successfully developed a new technology that combines NEC’s wireless communication technology with Nidec’s motor synchronization technology to enable highly precise, real-time remote control of Intelligent Motors through a wireless network.

NEC’s wireless communication technology accurately predicts the future operational status of Intelligent Motors in the event of a wireless network communication delay. This enables the motors to be remotely controlled in real time, and for future operations to be adjusted based on prediction results.

In addition, Nidec’s motor synchronization technology enables multiple Intelligent Motors to interact with each other through highly precise synchronization between them, or among multiple robots equipped with Intelligent Motors.

This newly developed technology has been verified by simulation testing with automated guided vehicles (AGVs), in an environment where wireless communications were unstable due to the data transmission of peripheral equipment and the influence of electromagnetic noise. According to the testing, the technology could improve transportation efficiency (*2) by 30% compared to conventional methods.

Going forward, NEC and Nidec will promote commercialization of this technology throughout a wide range of fields, including automatic carriers in plants and warehouses, security robots, reconnaissance robots, and remote control of drones for inspection and delivery.

NEC will present this technology at the IEEE International Conference on Consumer Electronics (ICCE) 2018 in Las Vegas from Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 14, 2018.
URL: http://www.icce.org/