C h a p t e r 4
As mobile robots become more
autonomous and collaborative, their
ability to reliably communicate data
becomes critical. From low-latency control
loops to high-bandwidth data exchange,
AMRs require a mix of wired and wireless
communication interfaces optimized for
speed and reliability.
Internally, AMRs integrate multiple
subsystems, including perception,
motor control, safety logic, and
battery management. Each of these
subsystems requires deterministic
communication. Traditionally, Controller
Area Network (CAN) has been the
protocol of choice in this domain due
to its noise immunity and suitability
for time-sensitive control messages.
However, CAN's limited bandwidth
constrains its use in today's data-heavy
tasks such as fused sensor telemetry.
To address this shortcoming, designers
are adopting Ethernet-based solutions,
including 10BASE-T1S. 10BASE-T1S
has the benefits of offering multi-drop
capability over a single twisted pair and
also allowing multiple devices to share
a common bus with higher bandwidth
and less wiring complexity. The result is
denser and lighter AMR platforms.
Meanwhile, the move toward sensor
fusion and edge AI only amplifies
connectivity demands. Advanced AMRs
incorporate a slew of sensors, all of which
generate streams of data that must be
CONNECTIVITY
Reliable communication is the
backbone of AMR operations in
dynamic environments. Wired
connections provide stability and
low latency for internal systems,
while wireless networks enable real-
time localization, fleet coordination,
and cloud-based intelligence."
José Carlos García Moreno
Autonomous Navigation Engineer, PAL Robotics
19
Engineering the Future: The Sensors and Systems Powering Modern Mobile Robots
