GaN-based motor drive reference design targets humanoid robots

Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) has announced the launch of the EPC91104, a high-performance 3-phase BLDC motor drive inverter reference design.

GaN-based motor drive reference design Credit: EPC

This reference design is intended for powering compact, precision motors in humanoid robots, such as those used for wrist, finger, and toe movements.

The EPC91104 evaluation board uses the EPC23104 ePower Stage IC, offering a maximum RDS(on) of 11 mΩ and supporting DC bus voltages up to 80 V. The design supports up to 14 Apk steady-state and 20 Apk pulsed current, ensuring reliable performance for humanoid robot applications that require fine motor control and precision.

Key features of the EPC91104 include:

Wide Voltage Range: Operates between 14 V and 80 V, accommodating a variety of battery systems.

Compact Design: Suitable for space-constrained robotics.

Advanced Protection: Includes overcurrent and input undervoltage protection, ensuring reliability in demanding applications.

Optimised Efficiency: Low-distortion switching reduces torque ripple and motor noise.

“Humanoid robots demand motors with precision and compactness, and the EPC91104 is specifically designed to meet those needs for applications like small joint actuation,” said Alex Lidow, CEO of EPC.

For higher-current requirements, such as elbow and knee motors in humanoid robots, EPC is offering the EPC9176 board in the same family. With enhanced current capacity, it complements the EPC91104 to cover a full range of motor drive applications in humanoid robotics.

The EPC91104 is compatible with controller boards from leading manufacturers, including Microchip, Texas Instruments, STMicroelectronics, and Renesas, offering engineers much greater flexibility in development.

It is equipped with comprehensive sensing and protection features, ensuring rapid prototyping and testing.