• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • About
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
  • Advertise
    • Advertising
    • Case studies
    • Design
    • Email marketing
    • Features list
    • Lead generation
    • Magazine
    • Press releases
    • Publishing
    • Sponsor an article
    • Webcasting
    • Webinars
    • White papers
    • Writing
  • Subscribe to Newsletter

Robotics & Automation News

Where Innovation Meets Imagination

  • Home
  • News
  • Features
  • Editorial Sections A-Z
    • Agriculture
    • Aircraft
    • Artificial Intelligence
    • Automation
    • Autonomous Vehicles
    • Business
    • Computing
    • Construction
    • Culture
    • Design
    • Drones
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Engineering
    • Environment
    • Health
    • Humanoids
    • Industrial robots
    • Industry
    • Infrastructure
    • Investments
    • Logistics
    • Manufacturing
    • Marine
    • Material handling
    • Materials
    • Mining
    • Promoted
    • Research
    • Robotics
    • Science
    • Sensors
    • Service robots
    • Software
    • Space
    • Technology
    • Transportation
    • Warehouse robots
    • Wearables
  • Press releases
  • Events

2022 Energy Forecast: Ultra-dense power delivery networks are re-shaping the future

January 7, 2022 by Mark Allinson

By Tom Curatolo, senior director, applications engineering, Vicor Corporation

It is estimated by the year 2030 there will be a global skilled labor shortage of up to 85 million jobs, which equates to $8.5 trillion, according to a recent Korn Ferry report.

Many of these jobs will be in the industrial and service sectors where the Covid pandemic has exposed weaknesses in global supply chains and labor pools. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and robots can alleviate this situation by efficiently automating manual tasks.

Today, UAVs are being quickly ushered into service for a host of unique and mission-critical applications, including security/surveillance, parcel delivery, agriculture, defense and even natural disaster recovery and humanitarian aid delivery missions.

As we look a few years into the future, we can see UAVs assuming greater roles in more hazardous types of applications such as high-voltage wire inspection, bridge/tower inspection and commercial shipping hull inspection/repair.

For UAV and robotics applications to continue to innovate, they require compact, lightweight power supplies that can deliver more power than today. Power modules are power dense, thermally adept power supplies that are easily configured and simple to scale as more power is needed.

Using UAVs for these types of applications has several benefits, including faster response times and real-time data gathering. More importantly, the use of unmanned systems for high-risk activities currently performed by human workers eliminates the risk of employee injury, collateral damage and associated liability costs.

As the global economy becomes more integrated and interdependent, the demand for consumer and durable goods is growing exponentially. As a result of this explosive demand, today’s factories are finding it difficult to source, manufacture and deliver goods in a timely fashion.

That’s where enlisting the services of robots comes in. Robots excel at routing tasks that require limited decision making. Robots can operate for weeks on end with predictable and repeatable results, dramatically improving efficiency and increasing throughput.

The rapid adoption of robots and other automated systems is being driven by consumer demand with no end in sight.

In order for UAVs and robotics to realize widespread deployment, we need to rethink their most impactful limitation – power.

How to power them to achieve longer flight times while carrying heavier payloads or stay online to meet production demands using a variety of power sources ranging from onboard batteries, tethered power sources or alternative energy sources like hydrogen fuel cells and renewable energy like solar, wind and wave power.

When we speak with customers, they typically are trying to fit the power supply into a very small space. Size and weight are always a priority for them. So, power modules are a great solution. They are thermally-adept, compact and deliver a lot of power for mobile applications.

That’s where dense power delivery networks come into play. If power is a limiting function of many mobile applications, then it can also be an enabler to innovation if it is used properly.

Module-based solutions offer a high-level of integration at extremely high efficiencies, making it possible to squeeze the most out of your power source using a much smaller footprint than conventional power topologies.

This paradigm shift in power delivery means UAV and robotics designers can accommodate more features, functions and higher operating voltages in their designs without having to make any compromises.

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Share this:

  • Click to print (Opens in new window) Print
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit
  • Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window) Tumblr
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window) Pinterest
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window) WhatsApp
  • Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window) Telegram
  • Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window) Pocket

Related stories you might also like…

Filed Under: Energy, Featured companies, Features, Vicor Power Tagged With: applications, drones, power, robotics, vicor, vicor corporation, vicor power

Primary Sidebar

Search this website

Latest articles

  • Mitsubishi Electric says its robots are ‘bridging skills gaps’ in automation technology
  • Pusan National University scientists develop ‘game-changing method’ to create safer, long-lasting lithium-ion batteries
  • Fraunhofer develops ‘resource-efficient’ measurement system for semiconductor wafer production
  • Tokyo University scientists discover key to ‘stable, high-performance, and long-life’ sodium-ion batteries
  • Swiss Steel develops ‘sustainable and easy-to-machine special steels’ for automotive industry
  • How to Calculate Diminished Value for Your Car After an Accident
  • Gartner predicts one in 20 supply chain managers will manage robots, not humans, by 2030
  • Moldova launches new incubator for robotics, digital agriculture, and foodtech
  • Pudu Robotics launches new industrial sweeper and vacuum
  • Out of thin air: MIT engineers develop device that creates safe drinking water from air

Secondary Sidebar

Copyright © 2025 · News Pro on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT