A connector combines power and Ethernet in one unit, helping robots save space, reduce cables, and simplify assembly.
Molex has introduced MiniMix Hybrid Power and Signal Connectors for humanoid robots, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs), and industrial automation equipment. The connectors combine up to 15.0A power and 1Gbps 1000BASE-T1 Ethernet in a single interface, for applications where separate power and signal connections are difficult to accommodate.
With a 5.65mm routing profile, Molex says the MiniMix is the industry’s smallest hybrid connector and can require up to 50% less routing area than alternative solutions. The design supports pre-terminated cable assemblies that can be routed through actuator channels, articulated limbs, robotic joints, and end-effectors. This can reduce the number of connectors and cables required and simplify assembly in space-constrained mechanisms.
Robotic joints and actuators need to carry both power and high-speed control signals through limited space. This applies to multi-axis assemblies such as wrists, elbows, knees, ankles, and neck mechanisms. Using separate connectors for power and signal can increase the size and weight of the interconnect system and make cable routing more difficult.
The MiniMix combines power and signal connections into one interface. It is available in vertical and right-angle mating configurations, allowing designers to accommodate different mechanical layouts and cable-routing requirements. The connector design also addresses cable strain in assemblies that experience continuous movement.
Robotic mechanisms can subject interconnects to vibration, repeated movement, and cable flexing over extended operating cycles. MiniMix is designed to maintain electrical connectivity under these conditions for wire-to-board and cable assembly applications in moving robotic systems.
The assembly process is another consideration. Conventional approaches can require manufacturers to route bare wires manually and solder terminals during final assembly. Integrating power and signal connections into a pre-terminated assembly can reduce these manual operations and the number of individual connection points in the system.
Compact interconnects are relevant to humanoid robots, which use multiple articulated joints and actuator systems. A 2026 supply chain analysis by McKinsey & Company estimates that joint actuator systems can account for 40% to 60% of a humanoid robot’s total bill of materials. With humanoid platforms incorporating around 50 articulated joint actuators, reducing connector size, cabling, and assembly requirements at each joint can affect the overall system design.
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