Reduction gears contain world’s thinnest, lightest torque sensors
3 January 2025 
Nidec Drive Technology has launched a wave-motion reduction gear containing “the world’s thinnest and lightest torque sensor”, designed to avoid the usual trade-offs between productivity and safety when adding safety functions to precision gearboxes. The Smart-Flexwave BD series reducers are designed to drive robot joints and other devices that need precision torque control.
As the demand for cobots (collaborative robots) grows, so does the need for torque sensors, especially for contention detection and other safety functions. However, if conventional torque sensors are installed in a robot joint, they reduce its stiffness while increasing its weight, thus affecting the arm’s performance. The new reduction gears are designed to address this trade-off between productivity and safety, helping to make cobots both productive and safe.
The gearboxes deliver the safety required for cobots by duplicating the sensor system and conforming to the functional safety standards for industrial equipment. The torque sensor has received functional safety certification from TÜV SÜD. Nidec says it will help users to cut the time and costs they spend on developing robot systems.
