Sensors · Absolute rotary encoder

AS5047P magnetic encoder

The AS5600's serious sibling: 14-bit, SPI, with ABI quadrature output so it can drive both a motor controller and an MCU counter at once.

$10 indicative ams OSRAM Absolute rotary encoder

The role it plays

Sensors split into proprioception — encoders, IMUs, joint torque, motor current — which tells the robot about itself, and exteroception — LiDAR, depth, force, GNSS — which tells it about the world. Build proprioception first. A robot that does not know where its own joints are cannot use a good world model anyway.

Typical use: FOC commutation, precision joints, closed-loop steppers.

What the numbers actually mean

The headline figure is 14-bit (16384 counts/rev) (resolution), with SPI + ABI quadrature + UVW as the next most load-bearing number (interface). At $10 in the sensors tier it sits cheap enough to prototype with and replace without regret, which is the correct way to learn a new subsystem.

GotchaThe UVW output makes it a drop-in replacement for hall sensors on a BLDC — big win for retrofitting motors.

How it compares

Same subsystem, closest alternatives. The primary spec column is usually the one that decides it.

PartPricePrimary specSecond spec
AS5047P magnetic encoderAbsolute rotary encoder $10 14-bit (16384 counts/rev) SPI + ABI quadrature + UVW
AS5600 magnetic encoderAbsolute rotary encoder $3 12-bit (4096 counts/rev) I²C (also analog / PWM out)
CUI AMT102-VCapacitive incremental encoder $25 up to 2048 PPR (configurable) Quadrature A/B/Z
BNO085 9-DOF IMUIMU with onboard fusion $25 3-axis accel + gyro + magnetometer Quaternion / Euler / rotation vector, plus raw
ICM-42688-P6-axis IMU $5 3-axis accel (±16 g) + 3-axis gyro (±2000 °/s) SPI up to 24 MHz, I²C

Where it shows up

Platforms in this atlas that use something in this class: Franka Research 3, Berkeley Humanoid Lite.