Application of Magnesium Alloy in Robots

The rapid iteration of humanoid robots and the trend towards lightweighting. Early development began in the 1960s, and with technological advancements, robots have developed the ability to independently perform complex actions. Humanoid robots consist of four major modules: perception, decision-making, control, and execution. The execution module is similar to human muscles and is responsible for limb movements. To achieve high flexibility in human like actions, lightweight design can significantly reduce the load on the driving system, improve carrying capacity, while reducing power consumption and extending lifespan, which is crucial for performance improvement and commercial implementation. Magnesium alloy, with its unique performance advantages, is quietly emerging in the field of humanoid robots.

Lightweight and high-strength magnesium alloy has the characteristics of being lighter and stronger than aluminum alloy, which can reduce the weight of humanoid robots, improve their maneuverability and speed, and provide more possibilities for the application of humanoid robots. Magnesium alloy has excellent heat dissipation, with a thermal conductivity that is 350-400 times higher than that of ABS resin for most engineering plastics and some aluminum alloys. It can quickly conduct heat from joint drivers to prevent overheating, and also quickly dissipate heat from internal electronic components of robots, ensuring stable operation and avoiding malfunctions. Magnesium alloys with diverse shapes can be surface treated through various processing methods such as oxidation, painting, electrophoresis, etc., making humanoid robots more beautiful and durable, meeting the needs of personalized customization. Durable magnesium alloy is resistant to UV/moisture aging due to its metallic nature, with no risk of plastic embrittlement and excellent creep resistance. By using surface technologies such as micro arc oxidation, corrosion shortcomings can be systematically addressed, achieving a balance between lightweight and long-term stability, making it an ideal material for joints and skeletons in humanoid robots.