Servos expected to become more intelligent

Wellingborough, U.K.— Users of servo motion systems are increasingly implementing intelligent servo drives with integrated position control capabilities, according to IMS Research ‘s most re-cent automation survey. The study confirms that companies are moving to more decentralized control solutions that use intelligent field devices. Of companies that purchase servo motion sys-tems, 53.6% report that drives with integrated position control functionality would be used in their automation systems within three years.

Easy set-up and high performance capabilities are the main drivers for growth in this market. Machine builders find intelligent servo drives are a better solution for developing and building modular motion control systems. However, IMS adds that this trend will not mean the end for “dumb” servo drive products. The trend towards decentralized control with intelligent drives is gradual and ongoing, and a significant proportion of the servo drive market will continue to be accounted for by drives without integrated position control capabilities.

The survey also found that servo motors with integrated drive and position control electronics are set to experience significant growth. Over a third of the companies surveyed expected to purchase these products within three years. Servo motors with integrated drive and position control are the extreme in a decentralized control architecture and can offer cost savings, simplified wiring and reduced control cabinet size when compared to using a separate motor, drive and controller.

“While rapid growth is forecast for servo motors with integrated drive and position control, these products currently account for less than 2% of the total European servo motors market,” says Tim Dawson, IMS’ research analyst. “Even with the predicted high market growth, it will continue to remain a relatively small market”. Although fundamentally this is the case, servo motors with integrated drive and position control can only help to enhance the trend towards decentralized control system solutions.

Control Engineering Daily News Desk
Jim Montague, news editor
jmontague@reedbusiness.com

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