Industry Market Background
Market Trend
Driven by advances in artificial intelligence and automation, the service robot market is experiencing rapid growth. The demand and investment in these robots in medical, logistics and other fields are increasing year by year. At the same time, the electric transaxle market is being driven to grow by meeting the power and efficiency needs of these delivery robots. The global service robot market is expected to exceed US$23.9 billion by 2025, with an annual growth rate of nearly 22%, and the electric transaxle market will subsequently reach US$3.52 billion, with an annual growth rate of 6.5%.
Starship Technologies saw a 35% increase in delivery robot deployments early in the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting overall industry growth and higher demand for transaxles. Moxi robots for hospitals rely on a high-quality electric transaxle to deliver supplies and efficiently navigate narrow corridors, reducing patient transfer times by two to three minutes. These two examples further prove the importance of high-quality electric transaxles in the field of service robots. At the same time, due to the energy efficiency and reliability of transaxle designs, the adoption rate of the electric transaxle market has already increased by 28% in 2023.
What is a Electric Transaxle?
Electric transaxles are a core component in electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles and other types of service robots. They feature an integrated design that combines the functions of the transmission and axle into a compact solution to efficiently transmit power and distribute torque to the two drive wheels. The electric transaxle consists of 3 components: the electric motor generates the required power, the gearbox enables efficient power transmission, and the differential distributes equal torque to the wheels. By integrating these functions in a single unit, the electric transaxle guarantees performance and energy efficiency.
Compared with the original traditional transaxle, the power source is changed from the traditional internal combustion engine to an electric motor system, which is more efficient and consumes less power. The compact design also makes installation easier and more convenient. By reducing moving parts, electric transaxles reduce wear and tear, therefore reducing the cost of regular maintenance. With the in-depth development of core technology, electric transaxles have played a key role in different fields such as electric vehicles, hybrid vehicles, service robots, and industrial equipment. Especially on service robots, electric transaxles improve mobility and reliability in healthcare, logistics and other fields, making services even faster and more efficient.
Supplier Differentiation Comparison
When selecting an electric transaxle, the unique offerings of different vendors must be considered. Key factors for evaluation include product quality, technical support and after-sales service. Suppliers vary in their ability to deliver powerful, reliable components that meet specific application needs. Choosing the right supplier can significantly affect the performance and service life of the service robot.
Start with a basic understanding of what differentiates suppliers:
Product range: Make sure your supplier offers a variety of transaxles that meet your power and performance requirements so that other components of your service robot are compatible with their brand of transaxles.
Technical support: Since debugging of service robots cannot be successful the first time and after-sales service is always possible, reliable technical support is crucial for troubleshooting and optimizing performance.
Cost and value: When choosing service robot accessories, generally prioritize fit, then compare prices and consider overall value, including durability and efficiency, to ensure you’re getting the best cost-effectiveness.
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Ranking
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Supplier
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Product quality
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After-sales service
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1
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Rotontek
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High-efficiency motors, low noise,advanced regenerative braking, robust and lightweight design, customizable solutions
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Comprehensive global service network, 24-hour customer service, extensive warranty options, remote diagnostics
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2
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Dana Incorporated
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Versatile design, high-torque output, integrated e-Drive solutions, enhanced durability
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Global service centers, customized service agreements, in-field service capabilities, proactive maintenance programs
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3
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ZF Friedrichshafen AG
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High-power density, seamless integration, advanced thermal management, scalable solutions
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Extensive service network, real-time monitoring, tailored service packages, efficient spare parts logistics
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Reference factors and problem feedback
Cost-Effective Buying Guide
Take the No. 1 Zhongshan Rotontek as an example. Suppose now we want to purchase electric transmission shafts for different types of service robots, but we need to choose different powers, parameters, etc. Here we will customize a cost-effective procurement plan suitable for service robots:
1. Evaluate service robot task volume
Light robot: If simple tasks, such as indoor navigation guidance, basic cleaning, and light object transportation tasks, please consider choosing a low-power electric transaxle. Choosing this type is the most efficient, has the least impact on battery life, reduces overall operating costs, and is cost-effective.
Medium-sized robot: If requires multi-function, and the task volume reaches the standard of automatic delivery, security patrol, more cleaning tasks etc., you need to use a medium-power electric transaxle. This also ensures robot flexibility and longer uptime.
Heavy robot:Assuming that the robot is going to be used in factories or other industrial tasks, it is best to use a high-power electric transaxle. Otherwise, it will be difficult to complete difficult tasks such as industrial cleaning, heavy-duty transportation, and high-speed distribution. Wear is minimized during heavy loads and rigorous use, maximizing performance.
2. Consider Energy Efficiency
Battery life: Evaluation of the battery life under different power options and the compatibility effect between robot accessories.
Minimum energy consumption: Selection of the power that meets the task requirements according to the required robot type, controlling the minimum energy consumption.
3. Estimated robot maintenance costs
Select the electric transaxle that offers the best compromise between performance and efficiency for the robotic workload so that the power consumed to complete the specific job can be recovered in the form of maintenance costs. These types of electric drive axes can also be used to control the initial investment required and prevent the investment from exceeding the time required, while the efficiency of the robot is maximized, which in the long run reduces operating costs, i.e. maintenance costs.
4. Customization and flexibility
Make sure the transaxle you choose can be customized to meet your specific needs. Rotontek offers a range of options that can be customized for different applications, allowing the flexibility to upgrade or modify as your needs change.
5. Seek expert advice
An after-sales consultation with Zhongshan Rotontek’s technical support team is available to learn about the best transaxle for your specific use case. Their expertise can help you make informed decisions that are consistent with your robot’s operational goals.
Common Issues
After purchasing a cost-effective electric transaxle, further testing can be done to determine the overall suitability of the robot. Common issues regarding operational failures when selecting an incompatible or different power level electric transaxle for a service robot are listed below.
1. What kind of problem will occur if a robot tries to accomplish a high-demand task with a low-performance electric transaxle?
Since low-power or low-performance electric transaxle utilization in high-demand tasks does not provide enough torque and speed for accomplishing tasks. The robot may underperform or even stop working to finish the given task. Also, too much wear-and-tear would occur, and its repairing and maintenance would be costlier due to low performance.
2. What impact will an overpowered electric transaxle have on my service robot?
An overpowered transaxle consumes more energy, shortening battery life and increasing operating costs. Additionally, the robot may not be able to efficiently utilize the excess power, resulting in wasted energy and possible overheating of the system and damage to robot accessories.
3. What kind of malfunctions might choosing an incompatible electric transaxle cause for a service robot?
Incompatible electric transaxles can cause integration issues such as mismatched connections or control system conflicts. Prolonged incompatibility can lead to unreliable overall performance, redundant hidden risks, and high repair costs.
4. How will the electric transaxle be affected by choosing too low/too high a power level?
If you choose an electric transaxle whose power level is improper, be it too high or too low, your battery’s life will become shorter. When the power level is too low, the battery will become too fatigued. When the power level is too high, the rate of the spent energy increases.
5. Will improperly installed electric transaxle affect the stability of the robot?
An electric transaxle having a mismatch will make your robot be unstable. When there is low power in the electric transaxle, the entire machine will not be in balance. Also, when the power of the electric transaxle is too high, the overall speediness of the robot will not be in balance hence uncontrollable.
6. What safety concerns are associated with using incompatible electric transaxle?
The potential risks include overheating, damaging the robot’s accessories, and mishandling of the robot. Meanwhile, the complete parts of the robot will not work or even not in a position to function effectively.
7. How to avoid the incompatibility problem?
To avoid this problem just make sure that you are look upon the power rating of the electric transaxle. Before you buy a certain product carrying a tag, consult the technical teams to know if it will be appropriate at a certain condition, get the customized solution and after installation of the robot test the effectiveness of the transaxle force.
