MoboDrive ST – highly integrated steered-traction unit for omnidirectional mobile robots
Mobotic

 

IFOY category

Special of the Year

Summary

MoboDrive ST redefines AGV and AMR drive technology by integrating traction and endless steering in the world’s most compact form, enabling smaller, highly maneuverable and safe robots. Its fully enclosed design eliminates typical clean-room challenges. As a plug&play drive solution, it provides full motion control and easy integration into the vehicle’s safety architecture, enabling customers to design smaller, space-saving robots that were previously not possible.

Description

MoboDrive ST is a compact, highly integrated steered-traction unit designed for highly maneuverable AMRs and AGVs. It combines a steering actuator with endless rotation, a high-torque traction motor, redundant encoder systems, and robust motor control electronics in a single module.  

The system is ideal for omnidirectional drive platforms using one, two, or four units along with active or passive steering castors. With a minimal turning diameter of only 268 mm, it enables the creation of very small, agile robotic platforms. 
Technically, the unit supports radial loads up to 1,200 kg (depending on the model) and maximum steering torque of up to 250 Nm. It operates on supply voltages from 24 to 60 V and supports industrial fieldbus communication protocols such as CAN, EtherCAT, and ProfiNET.

Thanks to its fully enclosed design with no exposed components, the MoboDrive ST eliminates the cleanliness challenges typically faced in clean-room environments such as electronics manufacturing, hospitals, and the food and pharmaceutical industries. For manufacturers of AMRs and AGVs, this has long been a significant obstacle. MoboDrive ST now provides a robust, hygienic, and reliable solution tailored to these demanding applications. 
The MoboDrive ST is engineered for seamless integration into mobile robot platforms, accelerating development while enhancing reliability and safety.

Innovation

• Revolutionary all-in-one integration: Combines steering, traction, motor control, encoders, and endless 360° rotation in a single, fully enclosed, ultra-compact module – a breakthrough in AMR drive technology. 
• Market-leading plug-and-play module: Replaces multiple components with one ready-to-use unit, simplifying development, integration, costs, and maintenance. 
• Indoor-optimized compact design: Tailored for tight, obstacle-rich indoor environments requiring agility and space efficiency. 
• Fully enclosed, contamination-free design: Encapsulates all moving parts and wear sources to ensure no particles, grease, or abrasion residues enter sensitive environments. Ideal for clean rooms while providing strong mechanical protection that enhances durability and extends service life. 
• Custom-engineered integrated slip-ring system: Designed for the dynamic, endless steering requirements of AGVs and AMRs, ensuring reliable 360° rotation while eliminating cable fatigue, twisting, and signal degradation. This optimized power and signal transfer concept increases system reliability and extends maintenance-free operating life, reducing downtime and lifecycle costs. 
• High mechanical performance: Delivers up to 250 Nm steering torque, up to 700 Nm traction torque, and 1,200 kg radial load capacity for robust operation. 
• Cost-optimized integrated encoder system: Engineered for AGV/AMR safety needs, the dual-channel encoder provides safety-rated speed and position feedback. Its smart redundancy concept ensures precise, fail-safe steering and traction control while avoiding the cost and overdesign of generic industrial safety encoders.

Marktet relevance

• Enabling new AGV/AMR design possibilities: Allows customers to move beyond traditional layouts, offering greater design flexibility. Enables significantly smaller, space-saving configurations that were previously not achievable. 
• Enables use in sensitive environments: The fully enclosed design of MoboDrive ST eliminates cleanliness and contamination issues, providing a fast, effective solution for use in sensitive areas such as electronics production, hospitals, and the food and pharmaceutical industries. By integrating traction, steering, and motor control into one module, it delivers an innovative, hygienic drive solution for clean-room applications. 
• Large and fast-growing mobile robotics market: The mobile robotics market is expanding at a projected CAGR of ~20%. Mobotic GmbH has exceeded this growth with 40% over the past three years, driven by MoboDrive ST—demonstrating strong market recognition of its value for mobile robot manufacturers. 
• High relevance for OEMs: AMR manufacturers require drive systems that reduce engineering effort, simplify integration, and lower development time and cost. MoboDrive ST replaces multiple components with one compact, fully integrated unit. 
• Supports faster time-to-market: Integrating steering, traction, motor control, and safety sensors in a single module shortens development cycles and reduces integration risks. 
• Meets critical performance demands: As AMRs become more compact, agile, and high-payload, the need for reliable, low-maintenance all-in-one drive systems increases. MoboDrive ST addresses this demand directly. 
• Strong product platform for expansion: The current product provides a solid foundation. The portfolio will be expanded (scale-up and scale-down) and adapted for outdoor environments.

Main customer benefits

• Enabling new design possibilities: Provides greater design flexibility and enables significantly smaller, space-saving configurations that were previously not achievable.
• Compact high-power-density drive: Combining high torque output with strong torque-speed dynamics, the system delivers fast acceleration, precise maneuvering, and reliable braking in a compact footprint—allowing heavier loads at higher speeds without compromising agility or safety. 
• Streamlined integration and high reliability: The all-in-one module reduces engineering effort and replaces multiple subsystems. Its integrated slip ring and robust construction minimize maintenance and lower failure risks. 
• Enhanced safety and simplified certification: Integrated safety features support compliance and increase operational safety. 
• Accelerated development cycles: Embedded motor control and flexible fieldbus interfaces speed up control system integration. 
• Space-efficient and layout-optimized: The compact form frees space for batteries, lifting modules, and other functions. Its small footprint allows positioning at the platform’s corners, improving stability—crucial for high loads, higher speeds, and uneven floors. 
• Lower total cost of ownership: Reduced maintenance, faster servicing, fewer components, and shorter development cycles cut long-term costs. 
• Catalogue and Cconfigured-to-order variants: Key drivetrain parameters—torque-speed performance, gearbox ratio, brake characteristics, communication protocol, and encoder interface—can be tailored to ensure optimal performance for each application

Technical data

Data sheet