MEMS is one of the few branches that combines the attributes of robotics and OCS, benefiting from the dual drive of high demand in robotics and computing power. MEMS, short for Micro-Electro-Mechanical System, is not a specific product but a technology platform and manufacturing process. Its core feature is the use of micro-nano fabrication technology from integrated circuits to integrate various components such as mechanical structures, electronic circuits, sensors, and actuators onto a silicon-based chip at the micron or even nanometer scale, forming a miniaturized system or device with specific functions.
According to predictions from consulting firms like McKinsey, the automotive sector remains the largest application market for MEMS, including MEMS mirrors for LiDAR, which are experiencing rapid growth. Meanwhile, the new scenarios and engines of robotics and OCS will drive further explosive growth in the MEMS industry.
First, in the field of robotics, MEMS serves as the central hub for precise control. Robots, especially those pursuing high autonomy in embodied intelligent systems, essentially simulate or even surpass the human perception-decision-execution cycle. MEMS technology plays the role of “sensors” and “cerebellum,” forming the basis for robots to perceive their environment and achieve precise motion control.
Second, in the OCS field, MEMS acts as the traffic hub of the optical interconnect era. OCS switches benefit significantly from the construction of large-scale data centers both domestically and internationally. After Google introduced OCS in its TPU v4 cluster, it successfully achieved a substantial performance improvement and a significant reduction in energy consumption. Additionally, by reducing the optoelectronic conversion stage, system complexity decreased, and corresponding failure points were reduced, validating its practical value in ultra-large-scale AI computing scenarios. Taking Google’s OCS devices as an example, the total cost of a single unit is approximately $12,000 to $15,000, with MEMS predicted to be the largest cost item, valued at around $4,000 to $5,000, accounting for about 30% to 40% of the total value. As demand in the OCS field explodes, it will bring a market worth tens of billions to MEMS.
MEMS concept stocks in robotics:
Suzhou Gude: Holds shares in Minghao Sensor, samples IMU products to leading manufacturers, and enters the supply chain for pressure sensors;
Si Rui Pu: Develops six-dimensional force sensors and lays out robotic perception systems;
Xin Dong Lian Ke: Navigation-grade MEMS sensor accuracy leads domestically, suitable for robot posture control.
MEMS concept stocks in OCS:
Saiwei Electronics: Subsidiary Silex Beijing MEMS-OCS has passed verification and is in trial production, with an 8-inch wafer yield of 75%, receiving international orders;
Tianfu Communication: FAU fiber optic array holds a 30% market share, applied in OCS modules;
Tengjing Technology: 800G optical engine compatible with OCS systems, production capacity is about to be released.