Teradyne & ADI Partner to Advance AI-Driven Robotics

Teradyne Robotics and Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) have agreed to form a strategic partnership to develop and deliver the next generation of advanced robots. The partnership is expected to speed up the development of AI in robotics, particularly in the semiconductor industry. The targeted goals are to enhance efficiency, productivity, and safety by reducing repetitive tasks, dealing with a worker shortage, and minimizing downtime.

Challenges in Semiconductor Manufacturing

Semiconductor manufacturing is notorious for repetitive motion injuries. Unlike heavy industry, there is not much heavy lifting, danger from forklifts, or other common hazards, so it is easy to underestimate the hazards of repetitive motions. Furthermore, both machine motions and human motions are often excessive; wafers may travel up and down the factory multiple times, wasting energy and increasing the risk of quality excursions. With the deployment of intelligent cobots, movements of materials and workpieces can be optimized, saving energy and reducing the chances of ergonomics injuries.

Who is Teradyne Robotics?

Teradyne Robotics is a global leader in robotics systems. Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, both well-known names in the automation field, are under the Teradyne Robotics umbrella. Their two specialties, in their words, are to “connect and test it all.” In the “connect” part of this mission, they design, build, and deploy robots to automate tasks. Then, they develop and employ numerous test mechanisms for hardware systems and quality control devices. The idea behind their company is to seek out repetitive tests, automate them, and then verify their performance.

Universal Robots (Teradyne Robotics) industrial cobot handling packages. Image used courtesy of Teradyne Robotics

Between Universal Robots and Mobile Industrial Robots, Teradyne Robotics serves many markets. Their primary customers are the defense, aerospace, and semiconductor industries, with many of their test platforms deployed in semiconductor manufacturing. With over 80,000 products deployed across the globe, representing 34% of the cobot market, and over 130 patents filed, Teradyne Robotics is a major player in the robotics space.

Who is Analog Devices?

ADI has been creating and implementing data acquisition hardware and data analysis tools for over half a century. They are well-known for signal processing, edge processors, sensors, radio frequency products, and numerous other hardware offerings, as well as integrated software solutions. ADI has deployed over 75,000 products, delivered to 31 countries, and holds over 8,000 patents.

An ADI ADE9153A used to optimize power distribution in a household. This project was targeted to Sub-Saharan Africa for energy management and smart grid deployment. Image used courtesy of Analog Devices

In terms of markets served ADI has deployed automation solutions to almost every imaginable market. From university laboratories to automotive manufacturing to smart grid applications, there is probably an ADI product involved.

Benefits of Partnership

Both organizations celebrate the mutually beneficial partnership. Ujjwal Kumar, General President of Teradyne Robotics, said, “This partnership will enable us to deliver state-of-the-art solutions that drive innovation and efficiency throughout the semiconductor lifecycle.” ADI’s Martin Cotter, Senior Vice President of Vertical Business Units, agrees. “ADI’s leading silicon and sub-system solutions in intelligent motion, advanced position sensing, functional safety and robotic vision, integrate analog, digital and software capabilities, enabling us to co-create solutions that deliver breakthrough performance for next generation robots.”