Semiconductors: The engine of physical AI

Ronald Stärz, System Architect for Humanoid Robots at Infineon Technologies, takes a technical deep dive into why the future of physical AI is built on chips. Behind every intelligent robot lies a complex electronics foundation. Ronald examines the key functional blocks enabling humanoid robots: sensing, real-time compute and control, smart actuation with GaN-based motor control, battery management and charging, dexterous hand systems, and connectivity, all underpinned by functional safety and security. He argues that system competency in semiconductors is decisive, guiding customers through technical complexity from development to deployment at scale.