Designing servo drive components for the electric mobility of automated guided vehicles (AGVs) requires key specifications – such as efficiency, and taking advantage of regenerative braking to achieve a longer battery life of the vehicle. The Everest Series servo drives are a new generation of ultra-compact, high power density, lightweight, and highly efficient servo drives that provide minimal heat dissipation and longer vehicle autonomy. This is ideal for electric mobility vehicles.

The Challenge

The Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) market – including UGVs, hybrid vehicles, robotic utility vehicles, and other types of electric vehicles – has recently experienced significant growth due to demand for automation across multiple industries. Designing servo drive components for these types of applications requires key specifications, such as efficiency and taking advantage of regenerative braking to achieve a longer battery life/autonomy of the vehicle. Size, power density, and weight also play an important factor to deliver a more compact solution that can fit into an existing system’s mechanics. Supporting the standard communication protocols of CANopen/EtherCAT, and having safety certifications such as STO, gives end-customers the best solution possible when selecting a servo drive for their robotic vehicle application design.

The Solution

The Everest Series is a new generation of ultra-compact, high power density, lightweight, and highly efficient servo drives with state-of-the-art transistor technology. The high efficiency results in minimal heat dissipation, with regenerative braking capability, and optimized life expectancy/autonomy for the batteries that power the entire control system of the vehicle. Everest Series servo drives support standard communication protocols, including EtherCAT, Ethernet, CANopen, and SPI, dependent on the product model. The Everest Series also provides functional safety STO SIL3 Ple, TÜV certification.

The Benefit

The compact, lightweight, and pluggable Everest Series enables integration flexibility, needed in mechanically demanding and harsh environment applications. This servo drive delivers ultra high power density, designed with next generation transistor technology. High efficiency of up to 98% allows for minimal power losses during operation and reduces heat dissipation while using battery power at the slowest possible rate. This results in longer vehicle autonomy. The Everest Series servo drives support regenerative braking functionality with a very fast reaction time, beneficial with sudden movements, common with these vehicles. The power can then be safely returned to the batteries, extending the life expectancy/autonomy. Full compliance with the most common CANopen and EtherCAT standards, including CiA-301 and CiA-402, and STO SIL3 Ple safety certifications allow for seamless integration inside the vehicle’s supervisory control system – guaranteeing safe operation.

Specifications

Dimensions Zero 42 x 29 x 23.2 mm (XCR)
34.5 x 26 x 17 mm (NET)
Efficiency Up to 98%
CANopen Interface CIA-301, CiA-303, CiA-305, CiA-306, and CiA-402 (4.0) Compliant
Safety Certifications STO SIL3 Ple