Innovation in robotics is accelerating as robots are utilized across diverse markets and sectors.

Generally, robotic systems can be classified into four categories: industrial robots, collaborative robots (cobots), service robots, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs), which can be further subdivided into subcategories based on their field of activity, functions, and market needs.

Service robots aim to improve everyday life and can prove useful in customer service, agriculture, clinical care, and a variety of other industries.

Service robots are a rapidly growing field in research, innovation, and deployment, and are clearly a growth engine for the future of the world.

Service robots have much more sophisticated sensor interfaces to their surroundings.

Therefore, an essential design requirement for service robot system developers is to add robust and reliable wireless connectivity.

This type of connectivity enables a variety of capabilities, including tracking environmental sensor data over time in a cloud dashboard and sending alerts to mobile devices, among other things.

Developing a robotic system—whether it's an intelligent lawnmower that mows your backyard, a vacuum cleaner that cleans your house, or an industrial robot that makes electric car parts—is a complex undertaking, both in design and production.It's messy.

Implementing wireless technology itself is a challenging task, with added complexity in RF design and certification, complex networking software, and communication with the host processor.

Infineon deeply understands the design challenges developers face and provides connectivity solutions with high standards and industry expertise that enable robotics system developers to focus on product differentiation.

■ Connectivity for control and monitoring

WiFi is the most common and widely used way to connect non-stationary electronic devices (such as robots) to the Internet.

Billions of WiFi nodes are installed and used by almost everyone around the world.

WiFi is by far the most widespread connectivity topology in history and is ideal for connecting robots to the 'outside world'.

These unique characteristics make WiFi a natural choice for control and monitoring.

WiFi + Bluetooth® combo connectivity solutions are gaining popularity as they enable not only simple status telemetry data transmission but also provisioning of robotic systems with mobile apps via Bluetooth® Low Energy (LE) wireless connectivity.

Let's now look at the key technologies available to enable connectivity, both on the hardware and software side.

■ Silicon Connectivity Solutions

Infineon's AIROC™ WiFi and combo portfolio includes a broad range of secure and robust solutions that enable designers to bring unique products to market quickly.

The solution supports IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax Wi-Fi and BluetoothIntegrating hⓡ 5.2 into a single-chip solution enables small form factor IoT designs.

Combo, standalone WiFi, and WiFi SoCs with embedded MCU and on-chip networking capabilities are available in 1x1 SISO and 2x2 MIMO configurations.

WiFi and combo solutions can be combined with flexible external, low-power and secure PSoC™ 6 MCUs from Infineon and other vendors to run RTOS and Linux on application processors to implement complete WiFi + Bluetooth®/Bluetooth® Low Energy (BLE) systems.

The AIROC™ WiFi SoC includes the on-chip MCU, memory, and networking protocols customers need to easily create cloud-connected applications.

We offer a wide range of solutions at a variety of price/performance ratios, from the economical WiFi 4 CYW43439 to the high-performance WiFi 5 CYW4373 and the new cutting-edge WiFi 6 CYW55573.

This wide range of compatible solutions perfectly fits the needs of any robot design.





■ Software Support

A WiFi device is only part of the required configuration.

As a system solution provider, Infineon offers a wide range of solutions for Linux®/Android™ and RTOS (real-time operating system) hosts in addition to hardware.Two fully applicable supporting software packages are available for easy and seamless integration into robotic systems.

Infineon's ModusToolbox™ software and tools provide code examples and development support for WiFi SoCs or add Infineon's secure and low-power PSoC™ 6 MCUs and XENSIV™ sensors to IoT applications.

Infineon also supports customers with production-ready, fully certified AIROC™ WiFi and combo modules based on Linux® and RTOS-based platforms through its global network of IoT partners.

Infineon has developed ModusToolbox™ to help designers get started with IoT.

The toolbox is a collection of easy-to-use software and tools for rapid development on Infineon MCUs across a wide range of applications, from embedded sensing and control to wireless and cloud-connected systems, using AIROC™ WiFi, AIROC™ Bluetooth®, AIROC™ WiFi and combo devices.

ModusToolbox™ is a 'best of both worlds' platform that delivers a superior development experience, enhanced productivity, and powerful, feature-rich applications.

For more complex CPU-based robotic systems, wireless Linux® and Android drivers are available for several AIROC™ WiFi products. There is also a vibrant developer community supporting Linux.





■ RF design module products

One of the challenges faced by robot designers is the high complexity of RF design, which requires careful development to implement to meet the requirements.

WiFi is a regulated technology, so it must be certified by regulatory bodies such as the FCC, CE, and TELEC for use in all regions.

Few robotics designers have the experience, expertise, or time to create a complete RF design from scratch.

For this reason, commercial wireless modules from specialized electronics suppliers such as Murata Electronics, Infineon's wireless module partner, provide an ideal solution for quickly and easily integrating WiFi into robot designs.

Murata's WiFi + Bluetooth modules, based on Infineon's AIROC™ wireless connectivity, utilize state-of-the-art packaging technology to achieve extremely small sizes, minimizing the required footprint.

Metal coating shielding technology eliminates the need for metal can shielding while minimizing cost and size.

When space is at a premium, you can keep the size small without sacrificing WiFi/Bluetooth® functionality or power.

These modules are robots It covers RF design for the system, avoiding the hassle of high-frequency analog design.

At the same time, this certified module has already passed FCC/IC/CE/TELEC testing and is much easier to manage.

Additionally, embedded MCU modules provide the simplest solution with minimal space.

Onboard antenna or reference antenna designs are also provided.

Additionally, designers can take advantage of Linux® solutions for MPUs, RTOS solutions for MCUs, and cloud partner solutions.

Robust RF design enables customers to continue using higher data rates over longer distances.

Lowering the data rate can increase the communication distance.

Infineon's solutions provide essential tools for creating RF designs for robotic systems that meet high throughput, low current consumption, and time-to-market requirements.

The module is optimized for best RF performance. Additionally, Infineon's wireless module partner suppliers, such as Murata, support antenna design and matching for a streamlined design experience.





■ Conclusion

WiFi is an ideal solution for connecting robots of all types and complexities to the Internet.

WiFi offers many advantages for safely and securely controlling and monitoring robots from portable devices anywhere in the world.

Infineon offers a wide range of leading WiFi solutions, including semiconductors, supporting software and tools, as well as third-party modules for ease of use.

There is no easier or simpler interface option for robot designers to deploy quickly, simply, and safely.

More information about Infineon's complete portfolio of system solutions for connectivity can be found on our service robotics and wireless connectivity web pages.

※ This technical contribution was written by Jeff Baer and Matthew Salmanpour of Infineon Technologies.