“铁人”也怕热，人形机器人的热管理难题怎么解？

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the rapid advancement of humanoid robots and emphasizes the critical importance of thermal management systems to ensure their safety, reliability, and user experience as they transition from laboratories to practical applications in various environments [2][4]. Group 1: Thermal Management Challenges - Humanoid robots are equipped with high-power motors, edge computing chips, and dense power systems that generate significant heat, posing challenges for thermal design [4]. - Improper thermal management can lead to performance degradation, shortened lifespan, and safety risks for robots [4][5]. - The complexity and integration of robotic systems require effective thermal control to prevent issues such as performance decline and component failure [5][6]. Group 2: Environmental Considerations - Robots often operate in harsh or dynamically changing environments, which can include extreme temperatures and humidity levels, increasing the challenges for thermal management [6]. - For instance, outdoor mobile robots may face temperatures ranging from -30 °C in winter to over 50 °C in summer, necessitating robust thermal control solutions [6]. Group 3: Thermal Management Technologies - Various active and passive thermal management strategies have been identified, including heat spreaders, heat pipes, phase change materials (PCMs), and forced cooling systems [8]. - PCMs and thermal interface materials (TIMs) have shown optimal performance in passive thermal management, with efficiency ranges of 0.64–0.98 and 0.12–0.75, respectively [8]. - Active cooling systems, such as forced liquid cooling, can achieve high heat transfer coefficients of 1300–2200 W/(m²K), effectively managing heat in humanoid robots [9]. Group 4: Future Directions - The integration of hybrid thermal management systems, combining different methods, has proven to be more reliable in extreme environments [9]. - Innovations in materials and structural designs are expected to lead to cost-effective, lightweight, and wide-temperature-range thermal management solutions for robots in fields like healthcare, military, and space exploration [9]. Group 5: Component-Specific Thermal Management - Different components within a robotic system have varying heat generation and cooling requirements, necessitating tailored thermal management approaches [13]. - For example, high-density power components require TIMs combined with active cooling systems, while motors may utilize PCMs or heat pipes for effective heat dissipation [16]. Group 6: Material Properties - The article provides a comparison of thermal conductivities of various materials used in thermal management, highlighting the importance of selecting appropriate materials for effective heat transfer [17][20]. - Aerogels, with extremely low thermal conductivity (0.013–0.018 W/m·K), are noted as one of the best insulation materials for sensitive robotic applications [20]. Group 7: Liquid Cooling Systems - The effectiveness of indirect and direct liquid cooling systems is analyzed, with the highest effective heat transfer coefficients exceeding 6,000 W/m²·K for integrated cooling plate systems [25][26]. - The choice of cooling fluids is critical, considering factors like thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and environmental safety [24][26]. Group 8: Interface Materials - The article discusses the thermal contact conductance of various thermal interface materials, emphasizing the need for high-performance materials to minimize thermal resistance in high-power applications [27][30].