Integrated Motion Control Solutions for Advanced Industrial Automation

Regal Rexnord Corporation will demonstrate its integrated portfolio of motion control, power transmission, and factory automation technologies at the Automate 2026 exhibition from June 22 to 25, 2026, in Chicago. The engineering initiative introduces modular subsystems across robotic transfer units, scalable servo networks, and electromagnetic braking systems to address operational constraints in automated material handling, packaging, and digital infrastructure environments.

Kinematic Optimization in Robotic Workcell Expansion
To expand the operational envelope of collaborative robots without introducing excessive programming complexity, a collaborative seventh-axis transfer unit has been engineered. The system expands the horizontal operating range of robotic arms by up to 10 meters, allowing a single robot to service multiple workstations. The mechanical architecture incorporates a dual-linear-unit configuration designed to handle high moment loads and maintain structural stiffness. Integrated safety mechanisms include full-axis collision detection combined with manual waypoint programming to facilitate rapid line deployment and maintain process stability on the factory floor.

Decentralized Servo Drive Networks and Controller Architectures
Distributed automation architectures require streamlined configuration workflows to reduce installation overhead. A centralized motion controller managing scalable servo systems provides high-voltage drive capabilities up to 4 kW over standardized industrial Ethernet protocols. The architecture utilizes single-cable power and data feedback technology to connect servo drives and motors, reducing physical wiring complexity. This platform integrates directly into field networks across packaging, warehouse automation, and forming applications, delivering precise trajectory control and deterministic loops for multi-axis machinery.

Integrated Braking and Absolute Position Sensing Systems
Drivetrain design optimization in automated guided vehicles and mobile equipment requires the consolidation of functional components to minimize physical footprints. A spring-applied, electrically released electromagnetic brake solves this spatial constraint by integrating absolute position sensing directly into the compact brake assembly. This design eliminates the necessity for external secondary feedback hardware, reducing cumulative tolerance stack-ups and enabling shorter drivetrain configurations. The integrated system provides reliable parking and emergency braking functions while transmitting continuous rotational feedback to the primary motion controller.

Additional Context: This section details technical specifications and competitive benchmarking not included in the original product announcement
Conventional seventh-axis robotic transfer units typically require external safety fencing and separate safety controller integration. The integration of full-axis collision detection directly into the linear drive mechanism establishes an autonomous safety loop, minimizing spatial constraints in brownfield layouts. Furthermore, while traditional servo architectures separate power and encoder feedback into discrete cable runs, the single-cable interface utilizes digital telemetry modulation to maintain signal integrity up to 4 kW power levels, reducing physical cable tracking footprints by approximately 50% compared to conventional dual-cable alternatives.

Edited by Sucithra Mani, Induportals editor – adapted by AI.

www.regalrexnord.com