Joyson Electronic: Building a powerful energy 'heart' for marathon-running robots

The half-marathon for humanoid robots in Beijing's Yizhuang area has fully maximized the 'sense of the future.' Over 300 humanoid robots from more than 20 brands participated together in this 'physical endurance' competition.

Robots running marathons are like humans running: no matter how strong their legs, they still need 'glycogen'; for robots, it's even more straightforward—when the power runs out, they go offline. The industry's pain points are also highly concentrated: batteries need longer endurance, lighter weight, and faster, safer charging. An energy foundation that allows robots to 'run longer, recharge faster, and remain controllable' has become an important direction for the development of the robotics industry in the future.

From In-Vehicle Power Supply to Robotic Energy Management

As early as around 2010, Joyson Electronics began developing automotive energy management products. Its product lines cover battery management and power electronics applications across the full voltage platform, encompassing the entire process of 'charging-transformation-storage-discharge.' With its high-voltage, low-loss technological advantages, Joyson has secured several high-voltage platform projects from leading global automakers, gaining recognition from BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo, Geely, and other top domestic and international car manufacturers.

Among these, the battery management system (BMS) is critical for charging and discharging automotive batteries. It continuously monitors the state of charge and health of battery cells to ensure maximum performance and lifespan. The BMS can also integrate safety functions such as temperature monitoring, current limiting, and under-voltage protection. Complex balancing algorithms ensure even load distribution among all battery cells, preventing premature wear and extending battery life—a principle equally applicable to battery systems in embodied intelligent robots.

Based on shared technological origins, Joyson Electronics has extended its know-how in vehicle power systems to humanoid robotics. Additionally, the stringent automotive-grade requirements for electromagnetic shielding, salt fog testing, and vibration resistance are more than sufficient for robot power systems.

Since last year, Joyson Electronics has continued to focus on addressing specific requirements and industry pain points in robotic energy management through technological research and development. This includes: how to store more energy in smaller volumes and lighter battery packs to extend operational duration; how to predict energy needs dynamically and adjust discharge strategies when robots engage in activities requiring sudden bursts of current, such as running or jumping, to avoid voltage drops that could affect movement; and faster and more convenient methods for recharging robots. For example, some robots lose balance during competitions due to inaccurate battery readings or insufficient capacity, compounded by frequent battery swaps caused by continuous high-power consumption.

Building an Energy 'Heart' for Robots

As a Tier 1 supplier of components for embodied intelligent robots, Joyson Electronics has introduced a series of solutions targeting these industry pain points.

Joyson Electronics has released an embedded high-energy-density battery pack with cell energy density exceeding 320Wh/kg, capable of supporting a maximum continuous discharge of 40A. Charging from zero to 80% takes only ten minutes, with a cycle life exceeding 1,000 cycles. Multiple protections enable the battery to operate in harsh environments. Notably, Joyson's professional BMS algorithm effectively collects data on voltage, current, and temperature, precisely monitoring various states of the battery to ensure the safety of the robot's power system and enhance battery cycle life.

This battery pack is suitable for machine dogs, wheeled robots, and humanoid robots. Related products have already been sampled or supplied to leading robot brands.

Joyson Electronics has also introduced an industry-first integrated solution combining 'large brain + small brain fusion + power supply + cooling,' integrating the main brain controller, cerebellum controller, chassis controller, battery pack, BMS, and active/passive cooling systems into one unit. Compared to multi-controller distributed solutions available in the market, Joyson Electronics' robotic thoracic assembly saves over 50% space, while the chassis solution reduces space usage by 45%.

Not only that, Joyson Electronics is currently accelerating the development of higher energy density solid-state battery packs tailored to the miniaturization and lightweight needs of robots, providing them with a powerful 'heart'.

Recently, Joyson Electronics has partnered with Enpower Greentech to accelerate breakthroughs in solid-state battery technology for robots. They will launch an energy system solution featuring 'battery cells + BMS integration + data services,' upgrading and iterating on aspects such as BMS algorithms, safety functions, thermal management, lifespan, energy density, and superior rate performance, ensuring that the robot's power system not only 'has power' but also 'manages, uses, and understands power.'

Joyson Electronics’ further innovations in the field of robotic power systems will enable embodied intelligent robots to overcome endurance bottlenecks, allowing them to operate continuously for longer periods, and adapt to more industrial, commercial, or home-based scenarios.

It’s not just robots; there are also server power supplies.

It’s not just electric vehicles and robots; Joyson Electronics continues to expand its new energy management business boundaries, extending automotive-grade energy management technology laterally into areas like server power supplies and AI computing center power solutions.

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