Getting accurate movement in robots and machines can be hard. Learn about a small, reliable sensor that makes control easier, safer, and cheaper.
If you work with robots or heavy machinery, you know how hard it can be to get accurate position feedback from large joints without adding size, cost, or maintenance problems. Optical encoders can be precise, but they often make the system more complex, are sensitive to dust and dirt, and can drive up costs, especially for joints between 20 mm and 200 mm.
The Melexis’s MLX90520 inductive encoder IC gives 22-bit resolution for both rotary and linear movement up to 400 mm. This means you can control large robot arms, linear actuators, and rotating assemblies more accurately and reliably in automation, construction, and agricultural machines.
If you are designing large through-shaft joints, you will see how the MLX90520 makes mechanical integration simpler. The full sensing stack including the IC, PCB, and target can be less than 3 mm thick. This lets us create slimmer joints than optical or magnetic encoders that need bulky magnets, helping us keep designs compact without losing accuracy.
The reliability is key in harsh environments. Dust, debris, and long operating hours can wear down optical encoders, but the MLX90520 uses inductive sensing, which is naturally immune to contamination. That means it keeps performing well over time in factories, outdoors, or on mobile machinery.
Safety is another concern. This device has on-board digital processing and can support system-level compliance up to SIL 3. That helps us make sure large moving parts operate safely while still giving precise position feedback.
Finally, cost and setup time are important for all of us. Compared to optical encoders, the MLX90520 costs less and is easier to integrate. You only need to set a few parameters before it works, and it delivers low-noise, zero-latency data over SPI or SSI interfaces.
“With the inductive MLX90520, we are equipping the robotics industry with an alternative to optical encoders that delivers high performance, competitive pricing, and simple development, helping engineers to scale their applications,” said Lorenzo Lugani, Product Line Director at Melexis. “The device has already seen a positive reception by many companies and will help our customers to drive future market success.”
