With the acceleration of the global robot industry towards "intelligence, flexibility, and multi scenario" upgrading, the global robot market size has exceeded 65 billion US dollars in 2024, of which industrial robots account for more than 50%, and service robots and special robots continue to lead the growth rate. Behind the precise execution of instructions and stable transmission of power by robots, connectors, as "power transmission blood vessels" and "signal interaction nerves", are adapting to the demanding needs of different types of robots through lightweight, high stability, and integrated technological innovations, becoming a key component driving the high-quality development of the robotics industry.
Anti vibration and anti loosening+high current carrying capacity, building a strong "production defense line" for industrial robots
Industrial robots in scenarios such as automotive welding and electronic assembly need to withstand high-frequency vibrations and instantaneous high-power loads for a long time. Traditional connectors are prone to downtime due to poor contact, which affects production line efficiency. In response to this pain point, the new generation of industrial robot connectors adopts a "dual self-locking structure+copper silver plated conductor" design: the self-locking buckle can resist 2000Hz broadband vibration, ensuring zero interface looseness during the repeated extension and rotation of the robotic arm; The conductivity of the copper silver plated conductor reaches 98% IACS, supporting high current transmission of 50-150A. The temperature rise is controlled within 28 ℃ at a rated current of 100A to avoid faults caused by overheating.
According to data from a certain automobile factory, welding robots equipped with this type of connector can operate continuously for 3000 hours without stopping, reducing the failure rate by 92% compared to traditional equipment, and increasing the daily production capacity of the production line by 18%. At the same time, the connector adopts IP65 protection level, which can resist welding fumes and cutting fluid erosion, and the service life is extended to more than 5 years, greatly reducing the maintenance cost of enterprises.
Miniaturization+low power consumption, adapted to the "space and endurance needs" of service robots
Service robots, such as household cleaning robots and commercial delivery robots, are limited by the demand for "small size and long endurance", and have extreme requirements for the size and power consumption of connectors. The current mainstream service robot connectors adopt a "miniaturized structure+low impedance design", with a volume reduced by 40% compared to traditional products. The smallest model is only 8mm × 6mm × 4mm, which can easily be embedded in the narrow space of robot joints and battery compartments; The conductor is made of high-purity oxygen free copper, with a contact resistance as low as 0.5m Ω. The current transmission loss is reduced by 35% compared to traditional connectors, and the single endurance of the assistive robot is extended by 2-3 hours.
Taking household cleaning robots as an example, after being equipped with micro connectors, the thickness of the body can be reduced from 8cm to 5.5cm, while reserving more space for the dustbin; Commercial delivery robots can achieve 12 hours of continuous delivery at full load through low-power connections. The application of micro connectors has enabled us to find a perfect balance between 'small size' and 'long battery life', resulting in a 25% increase in product user satisfaction, "said the R&D manager of a service robot enterprise.
Resistant to extreme environments and high reliability, supporting special robots for "extreme operations"
Special robots, such as polar exploration robots and underwater operation robots, need to work in extreme environments such as -60 ℃ extreme cold, 100 ℃ high temperature, or deep-sea high pressure. The environmental adaptability of the connector directly determines the success or failure of the task. For different scenarios, connector companies have launched customized solutions: the polar robot connector uses low-temperature resistant PBT material, which can still maintain elasticity in an environment of -60 ℃, with a stable insertion and extraction force of 30-40N; the underwater robot connector reaches IP68 protection level and adopts vulcanization sealing technology, which can work continuously for 72 hours without leakage at a depth of 100 meters.
In the polar scientific expedition mission, a detection robot equipped with a low-temperature resistant connector successfully completed ice sheet thickness measurement in an environment of -55 ℃; Underwater robots use highly sealed connectors to collect biological samples at depths of 300 meters in the deep sea. Industry experts point out that the breakthrough of special robots cannot be separated from the technical support of connectors, and in the future, more radiation resistant and corrosion-resistant specialized connectors will be introduced to the market.
Integration and intelligence promote the "multifunctional integration" of robots
With the development of robots towards "multi-sensor fusion", multiple types of information such as power, control signals, and image data need to be transmitted simultaneously. Traditional discrete connectors not only occupy space, but also are prone to signal interference. The new "multi in one integrated connector" integrates power interface, Ethernet interface, and CAN bus interface into one, supports 100Mbps high-speed data transmission, can synchronously transmit motor control signals and visual sensor images, and reduces signal interference rate by 80%.
After a collaborative robot was equipped with this type of connector, the visual positioning accuracy increased from ± 3mm to ± 0.5mm, enabling precise assembly of electronic components; Agricultural picking robots achieve real-time linkage between picking actions and fruit recognition through integrated connectors, increasing picking efficiency by 40%. The popularity of integrated connectors is driving the transformation of robots from "single function" to "multi-functional collaboration".
From industrial production to household services, from polar research to deep-sea exploration, connectors have always been the "invisible cornerstone" for efficient operation of robots. As robot technology extends towards more precise and complex scenarios, connectors will further iterate towards "smaller, more integrated, and more intelligent" directions, injecting sustained momentum into the innovative development of the robotics industry and helping to build a more efficient and intelligent future production and life landscape.
Post time: Sep-27-2025