In humanoid robots, FPC (flexible printed circuit board) is widely used in the following key modules and scenarios due to its thinness, bendability, and high-density wiring characteristics:
1. Sensor system
Vision/auditory sensors: camera modules, microphone arrays, etc. require flexible connections to adapt to head rotation or complex spatial layout.
Tactile/pressure sensors: flexible tactile sensor networks on fingers, palms or soles of feet, transmitting signals through FPC.
Inertial measurement unit (IMU): accelerometers and gyroscopes used for posture balance, requiring lightweight wiring.
2. Joint drive system
Motor control: signal transmission between the servo motor driver and the main control board of the joint (such as shoulder, elbow, knee).
Encoder feedback: flexible connection of joint position feedback signals, adapting to high-frequency bending (such as finger joints).
Force/torque sensor: real-time transmission of joint force data, requiring bend-resistant FPC.
3. Core control system
Main control board interconnection: connecting processors, memory, power management chips, etc., replacing traditional wiring harnesses to save space.
Distributed submodules: Communication bus (such as CAN, I2C) between the trunk and limbs, flexible wiring is achieved through FPC.
4. Power and energy management
Battery module: Charge and discharge management circuit of flexible battery (such as lithium polymer battery).
Power distribution: Provide flexible power supply network for distributed motors and sensors to reduce cable weight.
5. Human-computer interaction interface
Flexible display: Driving circuit of facial expression screen or touch screen (such as OLED flexible screen).
Voice module: Audio signal transmission between speaker, microphone and main control.
6. Communication and antenna
Wireless module: Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G antenna integrated in FPC, adapt to curved body design.
High-speed signal transmission: Interfaces such as MIPI, USB 3.0, etc., for camera or data transmission.
7. Heat dissipation and thermal management
Temperature sensor: Monitor motor or chip temperature, connected to temperature control system through FPC.
Flexible heating film: Maintain the temperature of key components in low temperature environment.
8. Bionic structure adaptation
Deformable shell: Dynamic circuit connection with robot shape changes (such as telescopic arms, folding structures).
Bionic skin: Sensor arrays (such as piezoelectric materials) integrated with electronic skin require ultra-thin FPC support.
Core advantages of FPC in humanoid robots.
Spatial adaptability: Fit complex mechanical structures and reduce wiring volume.
Durability: High bending life (such as more than 100,000 times) is suitable for dynamic joints.
Lightweight: Replace traditional wiring harnesses, reduce overall weight, and improve energy efficiency.
Signal integrity: More precise impedance control for high-frequency signal transmission.
Technical key: PI substrate (high temperature resistance), reinforcement design (local rigid support), shielding layer (anti-interference).
Through the integration of FPC, humanoid robots can achieve more compact mechanical design, higher freedom of movement, and more reliable signal transmission, providing a hardware foundation for bionic intelligence.
