Motor drive serves as the primary propulsion method for robots. The drive system functions as the mechanism enabling robotic motion, constituting a critical component of the robot.
Robotic drive systems can be categorized into three types: hydraulic drive, pneumatic drive, and motor drive. Among these, motor drive is the most widely adopted approach, offering advantages such as high precision and real-time responsiveness, making it better suited to current robotic development trends.
Rise of Frameless Torque Motors: This trend primarily follows the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence. AI drives increased demand for collaborative robots, service robots, and humanoid robots, with requirements becoming increasingly stringent and necessitating customization. Frameless torque motors meet these demands.
Frameless torque motors currently face significant technical barriers. Only a handful of domestic manufacturers can supply high-quality frameless torque motors, leading to a market characterized by concentration among leading players. Key players include: - Buko Co., Ltd. - Kollmorgen - Aerospace Electronics - Haozhi Electromechanical - Micro Precision Motor Global manufacturers include: - Swiss MAXON MOTOR - U.S. MOOG - U.S. Sensata Technologies - U.S. Kollmorgen - U.S. Novanta Group Kollmorgen was among the world's earliest developers of brushless motors. Tesla's Optimus robot employs brushless torque motors in 14 linear actuators and 14 rotary actuators to achieve precise control and space efficiency.
The global hollow cup motor market reached RMB 5.1 billion in 2022, with China emerging as the world's largest producer.
The global hollow cup motor market is experiencing robust growth. According to Huajing Industry Research Institute data, the market size reached RMB 5.1 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to RMB 8.3 billion by 2028, representing a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 8.5% during this period.
Regional Production Breakdown: In 2022, China accounted for 56% of global hollow cup motor production, becoming the world's largest producer. Europe and North America contributed 15% and 11% respectively.
Brushless hollow cup motors represented 34.2% of the market in 2022, with their share projected to continue rising.
The global hollow cup motor market reached USD 748 million in 2022, growing 10.55% year-over-year—outpacing the growth rate of micro motors that year. Within this market, brushed hollow cup motors accounted for USD 492 million (65.8%), while brushless hollow cup motors represented USD 256 million (34.2%). As hollow cup motor technology continues to mature, the share of brushless hollow cup motors is projected to rise steadily, reaching 42.2% by 2028.
Industrial Chain Structure: Tight Integration Across Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream Segments; Robotics Sector May Emerge as Market Focus
The hollow cup motor supply chain resembles that of micro motors. As a subset of micro motors, hollow cup motors share similar upstream raw materials including copper, steel, magnets, bearings, and plastics. Primarily used in high-tech sectors like aerospace and military applications, hollow cup motors have expanded into civilian industries in recent years, spanning medical equipment, consumer electronics, power tools, and industrial automation.
Cup motors are critical components for robotic dexterous hands. Taking Tesla's Optimus humanoid robot—scheduled for production starting in 2023—as an example, cup motors account for 4.43% of the cost per unit, representing a relatively high proportion among components. Tesla's Optimus features 11 degrees of freedom in each hand, utilizing six actuators. Its design employs a hollow cup motor + worm gear + metal tendon drive solution, with hollow cup motors accounting for 54.5% of the hand actuator's cost.
Permanent magnet materials for hollow cup motors primarily consist of high-end neodymium iron boron (NIB), which accounted for 43% of the market share in 2022.
Among raw materials, high-end NIB (third-generation rare earth permanent magnets) dominates the permanent magnet segment for hollow cup motors. In 2022, high-end NIB accounted for 43% of the permanent magnet material market. Different permanent magnet types exhibit varying characteristics and performance. While ensuring stable magnetic field generation, permanent magnet materials must be rationally configured based on application requirements for operating temperature and environmental conditions to maximize motor performance and cost efficiency.
Current rare earth production is constrained by enterprises' smelting and separation capabilities. Leading Chinese companies operate at approximately 85% capacity utilization. The application scope of neodymium-iron-boron permanent magnets continues to expand. Strong demand support comes from multiple sectors including wind power, variable-frequency air conditioners, and industrial robots.
