Robotics and automation applications of drives and converters

The current design limits of power electronics have a significant effect on robotics and automation applications of drives and converters. This paper treats the major design limits that include dynamic range, reliability of power electronics, precision engineering and reliability, productivity and reliability, and drive motion control standards. For each of these limits, the paper identifies and discusses the salient issues and relates them to promising new technologies and, thus, to the future challenges in power electronic systems.