Power Corner: Analog Devices’ Etienne Moulin on the Convergence of Robotics and Automotive Power Requirements

Why It Matters

Unified power solutions accelerate edge‑AI adoption in robots and vehicles, reducing development costs and improving reliability. Stricter battery monitoring and low‑EMI designs are critical for operational uptime in high‑value automation.

Key Takeaways

• 48‑V rail standardizes robotics and automotive power
• Silent Switcher offers LDO quality, buck efficiency
• µModule integrates inductors, shrinking system footprint
• Robots need tighter SOC/SOH accuracy than cars
• Low EMI enables smaller, more reliable designs

Pulse Analysis

The convergence of robotics and automotive power architectures reflects a broader industry push toward standardized, high‑efficiency platforms. Both sectors now favor 48‑V rails, a voltage level long used in data centers and wireless infrastructure, because it balances power delivery with manageable current levels. This commonality allows designers to reuse proven components, shorten time‑to‑market, and leverage economies of scale, while also meeting the stringent safety and uptime requirements that modern autonomous systems demand.

Analog Devices’ Silent Switcher technology exemplifies the technical innovations driving this shift. By marrying the low‑noise regulation of linear regulators with the high efficiency of buck converters, the Silent Switcher achieves up to 96 % efficiency and complies with automotive‑grade CISPR 25 Class 5 EMI standards. The company’s µModule further integrates the inductor and magnetic components directly into the package, reducing board space and improving thermal performance. These advances not only simplify board layouts but also enable higher power density, a critical factor as edge AI processors become more capable yet remain constrained by size and cooling budgets.

Edge AI and autonomous operation intensify power and battery management challenges. Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) experience rapid discharge cycles, demanding precise state‑of‑charge (SOC) and state‑of‑health (SOH) monitoring that exceeds automotive requirements. Tight battery monitoring, combined with ultra‑low EMI designs, ensures continuous operation and prevents costly downtime. As AI workloads migrate to the edge, the need for compact, efficient, and reliable power solutions will only grow, positioning companies like Analog Devices at the forefront of the next generation of intelligent, power‑aware machines.