EPC’s GaN power ICs enable a new era of robotic agility

HUMANOID ROBOT EPC’s GaN power ICs enable a new era of robotic agility

2025-11-11 Source: Press release EPC 1 min Reading Time

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Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC), announces the launch of the EPC91120, a high-performance 3-phase brushless DC motor drive inverter optimized for humanoid robot joints. Featuring EPC’s EPC23102 ePower Stage IC, the EPC91120 delivers superior efficiency, high power density, and precise motion control in a compact 32 mm-diameter footprint designed to integrate directly within robotic motor assemblies.

Symbolic picture: Driving the future of robotics with cutting-edge GaN power technology.(Source: © Svetlana - stock.adobe.com) — Symbolic picture: Driving the future of robotics with cutting-edge GaN power technology.
(Source: © Svetlana - stock.adobe.com)

Efficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) introduces its new GaN power ICs, marking a significant step toward higher efficiency, compact design, and precise control in robotics, ushering in a new era of robotic agility.

Compact, high-efficiency power for robotics

The EPC91120 evaluation board integrates three EPC23102 GaN monolithic half-bridge ICs with an on-board microcontroller, current and voltage sensing, magnetic encoder interface, and RS485 communication. The system operates from 15 V to 55 V DC, delivering up to 21 A peak (15 _ARMS) continuous current and 42 A peak (30 _ARMS) pulsed.

With a 100 kHz PWM switching frequency and only 50 ns dead time, the EPC91120 achieves exceptional efficiency and dynamic performance, ideal for humanoid robot joint motors and other high-precision motion applications. The board was specifically designed to fit the mechanical dimensions of the Unitree A1 robot motor, enabling direct evaluation in real-world robotic systems

EPC’s GaN power IC: Compact, efficient, and engineered for agile robotics.(Source: EPC) — EPC’s GaN power IC: Compact, efficient, and engineered for agile robotics.
(Source: EPC)

Proven thermal and efficiency performance

Under natural convection cooling at 26 °C ambient, the EPC91120 delivers 7 ARMS per phase without a heatsink and up to 15 ARMS when integrated into the humanoid joint motor casing as a heatsink. Experimental results demonstrate total system efficiencies exceeding 80% from DC input to mechanical output, validating the design for high-torque, low-weight robotic joints.

Empa researchers working with the Aurora robotic platform, which enables fully automated battery experiments. (Source: Empa)

Advancing humanoid robotics with GaN integration

“The EPC91120 showcases tightly integrated GaN power that makes humanoid robots lighter, faster, and smarter by embedding high-density inverter electronics within each motor joint,” said Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC.

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