Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) is accelerating the adoption of gallium nitride (GaN)-based power electronics in robotics, drones, AI infrastructure, and compact electrified motion systems through its latest generation of high-frequency, high-density power devices and integrated motor-drive architectures. The company’s technology roadmap is centered on replacing conventional silicon MOSFET-based power stages with enhancement-mode GaN (eGaN®) devices that deliver significantly higher switching speeds, lower power losses, and substantially smaller system footprints.

As humanoid robots, autonomous drones, and AI computing platforms continue to demand higher efficiency and tighter integration, EPC is positioning GaN as a foundational technology for next-generation intelligent systems. Its Gen 7 GaN platform enables compact, production-ready power architectures capable of supporting high-performance motion control and dense AI power delivery systems.

GaN Enables Smaller and Faster Robotic Power Systems

One of the biggest engineering challenges in humanoid robotics is integrating high-performance motor drives into extremely compact joint structures while maintaining efficiency, thermal performance, and fast dynamic response. Traditional silicon-based power architectures often struggle with switching losses, thermal limitations, and larger passive component requirements at higher switching frequencies.

EPC’s GaN technology addresses these constraints by enabling motor-drive systems to switch at significantly higher frequencies with lower conduction and switching losses. GaN transistors offer lower gate charge, reduced output capacitance, and lower on-resistance compared with conventional silicon MOSFETs. These characteristics allow motor inverters to operate above 100 kHz while reducing overall system size and improving efficiency.

These advantages are especially important in robotic joints, drones, and compact electromechanical systems where every gram of weight and every cubic millimeter of space directly affect performance, agility, and battery runtime.

Integrated GaN Motor Drives for Humanoid Robots

A major focus area for EPC is the development of highly integrated three-phase BLDC motor-drive platforms for humanoid robot joints and UAV propulsion systems. The company recently introduced the EPC91122 motor-drive inverter evaluation board based on its EPC33110 integrated three-phase ePower™ Stage IC.

The compact circular platform is specifically engineered for robotic joints and integrates a three-phase GaN power stage, a microcontroller, motor shaft angular sensing, voltage and current sensing, auxiliary power management, and communication interfaces. 

The EPC91122 delivers up to 20 ARMS and 28 A peak phase current within a compact 32 mm circular form factor optimized for space-constrained robotic joints. The design enables higher power density and faster motor response while simplifying system integration.

The company also introduced the EPC91118, which it describes as the industry’s first commercially available GaN-integrated reference design specifically developed for humanoid robot motor joints. The platform integrates the EPC23104 monolithic GaN IC with current sensing, magnetic shaft encoding, real-time communication support, and onboard power supplies within a highly compact architecture designed for robotic limbs and compact drone propulsion systems.

Gen 7 GaN Platform Targets High-Density Motion Control

EPC’s latest Gen 7 GaN devices are designed to improve switching efficiency, reduce thermal losses, and enable tighter PCB layouts for robotics and AI applications. The company recently highlighted several new GaN devices optimized for high-density motion systems and power conversion platforms. Among them are EPC2370: 15 V, 0.28 mΩ, EPC2378: 25 V, 0.35 mΩ, EPC2377: 40 V, 0.5 mΩ and EPC2375: 100 V, 0.9 mΩ. These devices are packaged in compact dual-cool QFN formats designed to improve thermal dissipation and increase power density in robotic motion-control systems, AI servers, drones, and DC-DC converter architectures.

EPC’s latest-generation GaN devices achieve lower RDS(on) and reduced gate charge, enabling faster switching transitions and reduced switching losses. Higher switching frequencies additionally allow engineers to shrink passive components, such as inductors and capacitors, reducing overall system size and weight.

High-Density DC-DC Conversion for AI and Robotics

Beyond motor drives, EPC is also targeting high-density power conversion systems for AI infrastructure and robotics platforms. The rapid growth of AI computing is driving a transition toward 800 V distribution architectures and megawatt-class server racks that require extremely efficient power conversion and thermal management.

To address these requirements, EPC has developed several high-power GaN-based DC-DC converter platforms including EPC91123: 6 kW isolated 800 V to 12.5 V converter, EPC91134: 11 kW isolated 400/800 V to 50 V converter, EPC91107: Four-level totem-pole PFC platform and EPC91109: Compact two-phase synchronous buck converter.

GaN’s higher switching speed and lower losses enable more efficient point-of-load power conversion while improving thermal performance and reducing converter size.

The GaN technology platform used in robotics is also enabling more efficient power architectures for drones, e-bikes, power tools, industrial automation systems, and AI data centers. Higher switching frequency and reduced system size directly translate into lighter weight, longer runtime, and improved overall system efficiency.

The technology is additionally being adopted in advanced aerospace and space systems through EPC Space, the company’s radiation-hardened GaN division. EPC Space develops radiation-tolerant GaN power devices for satellite power systems, robotic instrumentation, LiDAR, ion thrusters, and autonomous navigation platforms.

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About Efficient Power Conversion

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in El Segundo, California, Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) is a developer of enhancement-mode gallium nitride (eGaN®) power transistors and integrated circuits for high-performance power conversion applications. The company focuses on replacing conventional silicon-based power semiconductors with GaN technology across applications including robotics, drones, AI infrastructure, electric mobility, industrial automation, lidar, satellite systems, and high-density DC-DC power conversion. EPC’s portfolio includes GaN FETs, integrated power stages, motor-drive reference designs, and high-frequency power conversion platforms.