News: Microelectronics
10 June 2026
EPC launches smallest GaN drive based on EPC33110 for robots and drones
Efficient Power Conversion Corp (EPC) of El Segundo, CA, USA ā which makes enhancement-mode gallium nitride on silicon (eGaN) power field-effect transistors (FETs) and integrated circuits for power management applications ā has introduced the EPC91132, a compact 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design based on the EPC33110 GaN three-phase module.
The EPC91132 is a 23mm reference design inverter for small motor drives for humanoid wrists and hands and for drones. It incorporates the EPC33110 GaN module, which is based on EPC GaN monolithic integrated circuit technology. The EPC33110 has three half-bridges, gate drivers, bootstrap circuitry and level shifters in a small 6mm x 6.5mm QFN package. The module can be powered by a single 5V power supply up to 80V with typical on-resistance of 11.7mĪ© and supporting 3.3V or 5V logic inputs.
Next-generation humanoid robots and drones require lighter, smaller and more efficient power electronics. GaN technology is a good candidate for motor drive systems to operate at switching frequencies above 100kHz while minimizing conduction and switching losses. The capabilities improve efficiency, dynamic response and control bandwidth, reduce size of passive components and overall volume.
The EPC91132 has a wide 10ā60V DC input range and includes all the key functions needed for an inverter including a micro-controller, regulated power supplies, DC bus voltage sensing, current sensing with embedded over-current protection and onboard magnetic encoder for rotor position and speed control. The EPC33110’s monolithic GaN architecture eliminates the need for discrete gate drivers and significantly reduces component count, simplifying PCB layout and accelerating system development. The platform is programmable through a dedicated connector and can be monitored in real time through the RS-485 communication.
The board has been designed with a flexible breakout-ring concept to support various form factors. With the outer ring removed, the board is 23mm in diameter, which means it could be incorporated into small drone motors such as the Vertiq 23-06 platform.
Performance tests have shown that the EPC33110 module can provide a continuous current of 11ARMS per phase for humanoid robotic joint applications operating at 48V and switching frequency up to 100kHz. In the drone motor testing, the system demonstrated excellent thermal performance with minimal temperature increase under the airflow from the propeller.
The next generation of humanoid robots and drones requires motor drives that combine extreme compactness with exceptional efficiency, says Marco Palma, VP Motor Drive Marketing and System Engineering, at EPC.The EPC91132 demonstrates how monolithic GaN integration can simplify inverter design while delivering the switching speed, power density, and thermal performance required for next-generation motion systems.
Complete design support files, including schematics, bill of materials (BOM), and Gerber files, are available for download from the EPC91132 product page.
The EPC91132 evaluation board is priced at $406.25. Reference design boards and devices are available for immediate delivery from distributors Digi-Key and Mouser.
