In the wave of modern technology, humanoid robots, as a product of the perfect combination of artificial intelligence and mechanical engineering, are gradually entering our lives. They not only play an important role in industrial production lines, medical assistance, disaster rescue and other fields, but also in the entertainment, education and other industries to show unlimited possibilities. Behind all this, it is inseparable from a seemingly insignificant but vital components – ball screws.
Joint drive: the key to flexibility
Ball screws are closely linked to the “joints” of humanoid robots, and are one of the core components for realizing their flexible movements. Imagine if there were no ball screws, every movement of the robot would be stiff and imprecise. It is the ball screws that allow the rotation of the motors to be accurately converted into linear motion, allowing the robot’s joints to flex and extend smoothly. Whether it’s mimicking the pace of a human walker or executing complex gestures, ball screws play a vital role.
Attitude control: rock-solid security
In addition to the joint drive, ball screws also play an important role in the posture control of humanoid robots. By finely adjusting the movement of the ball screw, it can ensure that the robot maintains balance and stability in different action transitions. For example, when the robot is walking or running, its center of gravity will constantly change, and then it needs to rely on the ball screw to quickly respond and adjust the attitude of each part to prevent falling or imbalance. At the same time, when performing tasks that require high-precision positioning (e.g., gripping objects, assembling parts, etc.), Ball Screws can also provide stable support to ensure that the robot’s movements are both fast and accurate.
Third, the end-effector: a tool for fine operation
The end-effector of the humanoid robot (e.g. hand, foot, etc.) is the part of the robot that is in direct contact with the external environment and carries out operations. The control of these parts is also inseparable from the support of ball screws. Take a robot for example, it needs to be able to flexibly open and close its fingers to grasp objects of different shapes and sizes. This process relies on ball screws for precise movement of the finger joints. Similarly, ball screws are used in the design of a robot’s foot to simulate the function of the human foot, enabling the robot to walk and even run stably over a variety of terrains.
KGG Miniature Ball Screw
As the industrialization of humanoid robots accelerates, dexterous hands are being used as a new type of end-effector for robots.KGG has developed a series of products for dexterous hand actuators for humanoid robots. KGG has developed a series of products for dexterous hand actuators, including ball screw components and miniature reversing roller screws, which are used in dexterous hand actuators.
Commonly used specifications:
→Ball Screw with Round Nut: 040.5 ; 0401 ; 0402 ; 0501
Technical Challenges and Future Developments
Although the application of ball screws in humanoid robots has been quite mature, there are still some technical challenges to overcome. One of the main issues is how to further improve the accuracy and reliability of ball screws to meet higher standards of robot performance needs. In addition, with the continuous development of robotics, the miniaturization, lightweighting and intelligence of ball screws have also put forward higher requirements. In the future, we can expect to see more innovative solutions and technological breakthroughs in this field to drive the whole industry forward.
Post time: May-26-2025
