Many people say the controller is the simplest link in the robot industry chain.
True — based on open-source algorithms, making a demo-level controller that gets a robot moving is easy, and a small team of a few people can do it.
But making a product-grade controller is extremely difficult. Big companies have jumped into this huge pit one after another, wasting tens of millions in R&D funds — and people are still jumping in.
The reality is: teams in China with original software and algorithm R&D capabilities are extremely rare.
Controller Market Analysis
- Fully independent R&D: ROKAE/Huashu/Canonop/iNexBot
- Secondary development based on CoDeSys: KEBA/Googol/STEP/Inovance/Peitian/Qifan
- Secondary development based on KW: Estun
- Purchased controllers: others (EFORT/Qianjiang/Huanyan...)
Difficulty Analysis
Team and Technology Barriers
- Robot control technology is a comprehensive discipline integrating mechanics, electrical engineering, computer software, communications, manufacturing and more.
- Robotics used to belong to the mechanical engineering school. But today's advanced robot control technology reflects more of modern communications, software algorithms and artificial intelligence.
- Robot control algorithms must also be combined with specific application scenarios — developed at the factory, "technology going to the countryside".
- Most Chinese robot companies grew out of the machinery and automation industries: strong in hardware and manufacturing, lacking software and algorithm experience.
- For hardware companies, the first hurdle is finding the right technical leader and building a software and algorithm team.
Cost Barriers
Control technology evolves rapidly, updates continuously and never stabilizes — a stark contrast with traditional automation manufacturing.
Traditional control cards, servo drives and other software-hardware products have long lifecycles once finalized. A robot controller is outdated six months after release. Therefore, the R&D scale is large — at least tens of millions of RMB per year in R&D investment as a baseline. Without annual sales of more than 5,000 robots, costs simply can't be covered.
Application and Promotion Barriers
Robots are focused on new industries and growth markets, and must work with a broad base of integrators. A single body manufacturer's channels and strength are extremely limited. Doing one niche field well per year is already very good.
Advantages of Independent Controller Manufacturers: High Volume, Many Customers, Many Projects, Many Applications
Strong product compatibility, tightly integrated with upstream components such as servo motors and sensors Many application scenarios — they've seen all kinds of projects, ideally suited to long-tail markets Long application history, clear user experience advantages Quickly amortize R&D investment through sales volume, achieving economies of scale Focused, driven by intense market competition
Advantages of Body Manufacturers Purchasing Controllers
No R&D investment needed, saving at least tens of millions per year Quick integration with integrators, expanding market channels
