ADI robot system design and selection guide: empowering next-generation robotics innovation

ADI's robot system design and selection guide helps developers quickly understand the technology solutions, product portfolio, and selection recommendations for fixed industrial robots, AMRs/AGVs, and humanoid robots.

How can you build smarter and more reliable robotic systems?

Building high-performance robots requires multiple key technologies to work together, including environmental sensing, localization and navigation, data connectivity, motion control, and power management. Analog Devices (ADI) provides products and design resources spanning key robotic subsystems, helping developers enhance system performance and accelerate product development.

What product portfolio does ADI offer for robotics solutions?

ADI's portfolio includes ToF sensors, IMUs, GMSL connectivity solutions, battery management systems, ROS drivers, and robust safety ICs, providing comprehensive design support for fixed industrial robots, AMRs/AGVs, and humanoid robot development.

ADI robotics solutions: overall features/applications

• Precision time-of-flight (ToF) sensors
• GMSL & industrial ethernet
• Inertial measurement units (IMUs) for localization
• Motion control & end-effector (EoAT)
• Open ROS support for rapid deployment
• Low-latency connectivity with TSN support
• AI-capable data acquisition at the edge
• Optimized power and battery management systems

Why do robots require a system-level design approach?

The performance and reliability of robotic systems depend on the seamless interaction of key subsystems, including environmental sensing, localization and navigation, data connectivity, motion control, and power management, rather than the performance of individual components alone. Through solutions that span the robotics technology stack, ADI helps developers optimize system integration and improve overall performance, reliability, and development efficiency.

ADI robotics solutions: overall features/applications

• Environmental sensing inaccuracies can lead to incorrect interpretation of surroundings.
• Accumulated positioning errors can affect navigation stability.
• Data transmission delays can reduce real-time system responsiveness.
• Slow control response can impact motion precision and operational efficiency.
• Inefficient power management can affect system stability and battery life.

Robots require a system-level design approach that enables efficient coordination among all key subsystems to achieve stable, reliable, and high-performance operation.

What key technologies are required for fixed industrial robots, mobile robots (AMRs/AGVs), and humanoid robots?

Fixed industrial robots, AMRs/AGVs, and humanoid robots each have unique requirements for sensing, localization, connectivity, and motion control. Selecting technology solutions and product portfolios that align with specific application needs can help improve system performance and accelerate product development. ADI offers products and technical support across key robotic subsystems, helping development teams streamline system evaluation, design validation, and integration.

ADI key product portfolio for robotics

The following products cover key technology areas including environmental sensing, localization and navigation, data connectivity, motion control, power management, and position sensing. They support system design and product selection for a wide range of applications, including fixed industrial robots, AMRs/AGVs, and humanoid robots.

Featured products

ADTF3175 time-of-flight (ToF) sensor

ADI's ADTF3175 offers high-precision depth sensing through 1 megapixel direct time-of-flight (dToF), enabling AMRs and cobots to detect obstacles and measure distance in real time.

Product features:

• dToF based 3D imaging
• Compact, calibrated module
• Long-range accuracy in varying light

Product benefits:

• High-resolution depth sensing
• Accurate distance measurement and spatial recognition
• Supports obstacle detection and safety zone monitoring
• Ideal for sensing systems in AMRs, AGVs, and humanoid robots

Applications: Navigation, object avoidance

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ADIS16500 high-performance MEMS IMU

ADI's ADIS16500 is an industry-leading inertial measurement unit (IMU) that provides the high-precision motion and orientation data required for accurate robot localization and navigation.

Product features:

• 6-DoF motion tracking
• Low drift, high reliability
• Factory-calibrated

Product benefits:

• Integrated 3-axis gyroscope and 3-axis accelerometer
• Factory calibrated to simplify system design
• Provides high-precision orientation and motion data
• Supports inertial navigation and sensor fusion

Applications: Localization, navigation

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MAX96724 / MAX96717 GMSL solution

ADI's MAX96724/MAX96717 solution enables high-speed data transmission over a single cable, supporting real-time sensing and vision data delivery for robotic applications.

Product features:

• Simultaneous data, control, and power
• Low-latency, low BER
• Supports video and sensor streams

Product features:

• High-bandwidth video and sensor data transmission
• Low-latency, highly reliable connectivity
• Supports synchronized transmission from multiple cameras
• Meets the requirements of machine vision and multi-sensor fusion

Applications: Industrial robots, AMRs/AGVs, vision systems

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TMCM2611 integrated motion control solution

ADI's TMCM2611 is a compact motion control module optimized for brushless DC (BLDC) motors in industrial environments, enabling efficient motor control and simplified system integration.

Product features:

• Integrated controller + driver
• High efficiency
• SPI, UART, CAN interfaces

Product benefits:

• Highly integrated controller and driver design
• Simplifies motor drive system development
• Shortens development cycles
• Suitable for robotic arms and mobile robots

Applications: Robot arms, mobile robots

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TMC9660 intelligent gate driver

ADI's TMC9660 integrates hardware-based field-oriented control (FOC) and servo control capabilities, helping robots achieve smooth, precise, and efficient motor control.

Product features:

• Integrated motor control + drive
• Smooth, precise robot motion
• Monitoring and protection support

Product benefits:

• Integrates hardware-based FOC and servo control capabilities
• Enables more precise motor control
• Improves dynamic response performance
• Supports control of complex robotic actuators

Applications: Industrial automation, medical lab automation, consumer/prosumer, building automation

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ADMT4000 high-precision magnetic position sensing solution

ADI's ADMT4000 provides high-accuracy position measurement capabilities, helping robots achieve more precise joint control and motion feedback while meeting the position sensing requirements of high-performance motion control systems.

Product features:

• High-precision magnetic position sensing
• Non-contact position measurement
• Compact integrated solution

Product benefits:

• Provides high-accuracy position sensing
• Supports joint position feedback and motion control
• Enhances system positioning accuracy and reliability
• Suitable for robot joints and actuator control

Applications: Position sensing, joint feedback, and precision motion control equipment

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TMC6460 integrated servo controller and gate driver solution

ADI's TMC6460 integrates servo controller and gate driver functions, helping robots achieve high-performance servo control and precision motion execution while simplifying system design and improving control efficiency.

Product features:

• Integrated servo controller and gate driver
• Supports high-performance motion control
• Designed for complex actuator applications

Product benefits:

• Supports high-performance servo control
• Improves motion precision and response speed
• Simplifies motor drive system design
• Supports motion control in multi-joint robotic systems

Applications: Servo control, precision motion control systems, and actuator control

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LTC7000 high-side N-channel MOSFET gate driver

ADI's LTC7000 features a high-side N-channel MOSFET driver architecture that enables reliable power control and power management in robotic systems, helping improve system stability and power efficiency.

Product features:

• High-side N-channel MOSFET driver
• Supports a wide input voltage range
• Simplifies power switching design

Product benefits:

• Supports system power management and load control
• Improves power supply reliability and safety
• Optimizes power control efficiency
• Simplifies robotic power architecture design

Applications: Battery management systems, industrial automation equipment, and power control systems

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TMC9660 intelligent gate driver

ADI's TMC9660 integrates hardware-based field-oriented control (FOC) and servo control capabilities, helping robots achieve smooth, precise, and efficient motor control.

Product features:

• Integrated motor control + drive
• Smooth, precise robot motion
• Monitoring and protection support

Product benefits:

• Integrates hardware-based FOC and servo control capabilities
• Enables more precise motor control
• Improves dynamic response performance
• Supports control of complex robotic actuators

Applications: Industrial automation, medical lab automation, consumer/prosumer, building automation

View details

Frequently asked questions about the ADI robot system design and selection guide

How can you access more robot design and selection resources?

From technology trends and application examples to product design references, technical articles, application notes, and video content can help developers gain deeper insights into key robotics technologies and design methodologies.