Nidec Drive Technology Launches “Smart-FLEXWAVE BD Series”, a Precision Reducer with a Built-in Sensor

Nidec Drive Technology Corporation (“Nidec Drive Technology” or the “Company”), a Nidec Group Company, today announced the launch of “Smart-FLEXWAVE BD Series”, which is precision-control reducer FLEXWAVE combined with a built-in safety torque sensor which have acquired functional safety certification.

Smart-FLEXWAVE, made based on the Company’s unique sensing technology and wave motion gear reducer-related technology, is a smart reducer with the world’s thinnest and lightest torque sensor, and can be used in the driving parts of robot systems and other devices that require torque control.

The newly released “BD Series” achieves the safety required for cooperative robots by duplicating the sensor system and conforming to the functional safety standards for industrial equipment. As a safety torque sensor, it has received functional safety certification from TÜV SÜD, a third-party certification organization, and will help customers reduce time and costs spent on robot system development.

Amid the shrinking labor force in recent years, the demand for collaborative robots is increasing rapidly, and so are the needs for torque sensors, especially for those for contention detection and other safety functions. However, if installed in a robot arm’s joint, a conventional torque sensor would decrease the section’s stiffness while increasing its weight, and diminish the robot arm’s performance as a result. To address this trade-off between productivity and safety, Nidec Drive Technology has developed a reducer with a built-in torque sensor, to make collaborative robots both productive and safe.

The Nidec Group stays committed to offering products that meet its customers’ needs via technological innovation, and aiming to contribute to the manufacturing industry of the future.