Have you ever wondered how humanoid robots can twist screws, hold pens, or even pick up an egg as gently as a human hand? Why can drones fly so steadily and stay airborne for so long? And how do surgical robots achieve millimeter‑level precision? Behind all these “magic” technologies lies a common hidden hero – the coreless motor.
Though its name may sound unfamiliar and its size ranges from only a few millimetres to a few centimetres, this tiny device is quietly transforming many of the high‑tech products we use every day.
1. What makes a coreless motor so special?
To understand its advantages, let’s first look at a conventional motor. A traditional motor has an iron core in its rotor. A coreless motor, however, removes that iron core entirely; the rotor becomes a hollow “cup” wound from fine copper wire.
This single change brings three major benefits:
- Fast response. Without the heavy iron core, the rotor is much lighter, so it can start and stop extremely quickly. While a conventional motor may take more than 0.1 second to reach stable speed, a coreless motor can respond in as little as 10 milliseconds (one‑hundredth of a second). That means a robotic finger can grasp an object almost instantly, just like a human hand.
- High efficiency. Iron cores waste energy through eddy currents and hysteresis. Coreless motors eliminate that loss, achieving energy conversion efficiencies of 70% to 90%. They do more work with the same battery power and run cooler.
- Small size and light weight. Coreless motors are typically no more than 40 mm in diameter, and some are just a few millimetres across. They weigh one‑third to half as much as conventional motors. For drones, robots, and other weight‑sensitive equipment, this is a game‑changer.
Thanks to these advantages, the coreless motor is often called the “jewel in the crown” of electric motors and the “heart of the fingertip” for robots.
2. Robotics: giving machines the dexterity of human hands
The most eye‑catching application of coreless motors is in the dexterous hands of humanoid robots.
For a robot to work like a human, its fingers must be agile. But the space inside a finger is tiny – how can you pack enough power into such a small area? Coreless motors, with their miniature size and precise control, solve this problem perfectly.
Take Tesla’s Optimus robot, for example. Its dexterous hand uses six coreless motors, giving its five fingers 11 degrees of freedom – the thumb even has two motors for bending and sideways movement. A coreless motor just a few millimetres in diameter can drive a finger to perform delicate operations like screwing, gripping a pen, or gently holding a soft object. Without these motors, humanoid robots could never achieve truly human‑like manipulation.
Today, many Chinese companies have made breakthroughs in coreless motor technology. For instance, Mach Intelligence in Shanghai, after 898 days of R&D, built a production line with an annual capacity of 400,000 units, and its products are now widely used in humanoid robot hands and surgical robots. Topband also launched an integrated “Lingqu Micro‑Drive” system that combines coreless motors, gearboxes, and controllers, enabling dexterous hands to deliver high output in a compact footprint.
3. Medical devices: the precise hand that saves lives
In healthcare, coreless motors play an equally vital role.
Surgical robots demand extremely high precision and stability – exactly what coreless motors offer with their fast response and accurate control. In artificial blood pumps, they provide reliable power with high power density and low losses. In ventilators, coreless brushless motors drive fans to generate stable airflow, running quietly and smoothly to improve patient comfort.
You’ll also find coreless motors in infusion systems, dental equipment, medical analysers, and many other instruments. Though they are hidden inside, they are quietly safeguarding countless lives.
4. Drones and aerospace: lighter, steadier, longer flights
How high a drone can fly and how long it stays in the air depends largely on weight and efficiency. Coreless motors, being lightweight and highly efficient, are an ideal choice for drone propulsion.
In micro‑drones, coreless motors provide thrust directly, allowing the aircraft to be smaller and lighter. In high‑end drones and aerospace applications, they are also used for gimbal control and precision actuator drives. Nidec, for example, has introduced coreless motors for propeller drive that can start in less than 10 milliseconds – perfect for applications that require frequent starts and stops and precise thrust adjustments.
5. And much more: from electric toothbrushes to smart locks
Beyond these “high‑tech” fields, coreless motors have quietly entered our daily lives. The high‑frequency vibration in your electric toothbrush, the automatic lock/unlock of smart door locks, the powerful airflow of a hair dryer – all rely on coreless motors. They are invisible, yet they make our lives more convenient and intelligent.
6. A bright future: a multibillion‑dollar market is opening up
The market potential for coreless motors is being recognised across more and more industries. In 2025, the global coreless motor market has already reached a considerable scale, with demand from humanoid robotics growing especially fast. As domestic technology continues to advance, high‑end coreless motors – once dominated by foreign brands – are now seeing strong opportunities for local substitution.
From miniature motors a few millimetres across to industrial‑grade products several centimetres in diameter, from robotic fingertips to operating tables, from high‑altitude drones to the palm of your hand – coreless motors prove that great things come in small packages. The next time you see a robot dexterously picking up an object or a drone hovering steadily, remember the tiny “cup” spinning silently behind the scenes.
Post time: Jun-30-2026
