The QPT 1MHz GaN Motor Drive represents a monumental paradigm shift in how industrial and collaborative robots are powered and controlled. QPT, a pioneering deep-tech company, has officially opened customer demonstrations for its recently updated MicroDyno test platform. Now equipped with native Field Oriented Control (FOC) and real-time dynamic cogging correction, this platform is set to radically alter the hardware landscape for machine automation. For engineers and automation specialists following the latest tech breakthroughs on aarokatech.com, this development bridges the critical gap between high-frequency semiconductor hardware and the ultra-precise application-level performance demanded by modern robotics.
The original launch of the MicroDyno platform introduced a hard-switched sine wave drive operating at an unprecedented 1 Megahertz (1MHz). To put this into perspective, the motor drive industry has been stuck using ~10kHz switching frequencies for nearly two decades. By leveraging Gallium Nitride (GaN) transistors and proprietary switching topologies, QPT achieved a 100x increase in frequency. The platform’s latest update takes this raw speed and translates it into tangible, commercially viable capabilities that solve some of the oldest problems in motor control.
Field Oriented Control (FOC) at 1MHz: Breaking the Bandwidth Ceiling
Field Oriented Control (FOC) has long been considered the gold standard for high-performance electric motor management. By mathematically decoupling a motor’s torque and magnetic flux, FOC allows for direct and highly precise torque regulation. However, running FOC on conventional silicon-based systems capped at 10kHz switching imposes a strict limitation on how fast the control loop can respond to physical changes.
The QPT 1MHz GaN Motor Drive is the very first commercial demonstration platform capable of running FOC natively at a 1MHz switching speed. Because the control loop updates approximately 100 times faster than the current industry standard, the system possesses massive bandwidth headroom. This ultra-fast responsiveness means the drive can detect and react to microscopic fluctuations in the motor’s behavior instantly, paving the way for advanced software-defined corrections that were previously physically impossible.
The Magic of Sensorless Dynamic Cogging Correction
One of the most frustrating challenges in robotics is “cogging torque”—the jerky, uneven rotational movement caused by the magnetic interaction between the motor’s rotor and stator. In precision applications like medical robotics or collaborative robots (cobots), this jitter is unacceptable. Traditionally, eliminating cogging required pairing the motor with a highly expensive, high-resolution optical encoder and writing complex look-up tables that eventually drift out of calibration over time.
QPT solves this through a groundbreaking capability they refer to as “sensing without sensors,” powered by their internal qSense system. Because the 1MHz drive produces a perfect, ultra-clean sine wave voltage directly at the motor terminals, the signal-to-noise ratio is incredibly high. The drive can mathematically measure torque cogging directly through the electrical feedback of the motor itself, entirely eliminating the need for external hardware sensors.
Once detected, the drive applies dynamic cogging correction in real-time. It requires no complex look-up tables and works with a simple setup on virtually any standard, low-cost electric motor. The end result is that manufacturers can achieve the buttery-smooth precision of a high-end servo motor—which typically costs between £500 and £1,000—using a fraction of the hardware budget.
Digital Twins and Edge AI Predictive Maintenance
The hardware advancements of the QPT 1MHz GaN Motor Drive are further enhanced by cutting-edge software integration. QPT’s new software suite automatically generates a complete digital twin of the motor system. This digital replica allows for offline training of Edge AI systems.
Once deployed, the AI can continuously monitor the electrical signatures of the drive. Because the sine wave output is so clean, the AI can easily detect and classify minute mechanical and electrical anomalies—such as bearing wear or vibration issues—before they cause a catastrophic failure. It can report these issues and even dynamically correct for them on the fly. Once again, this predictive maintenance capability is achieved entirely internally, with absolutely zero external vibration sensors or monitoring hardware required.
Transforming Industrial Economics
Rob Gwynne, Founder and CTO of QPT, emphasized that operating at 1MHz isn’t just about speed; it fundamentally changes what is possible at the control layer. By removing the need for lookup tables and external encoders, QPT is actively eliminating a pain point that the motor drive industry has struggled with for decades.
Simon Hart, Former CTIO at YASA, echoed this sentiment, noting that the industrial motor drive sector hasn’t witnessed a step-change in underlying hardware performance in twenty years. For Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) building collaborative robots and automated machinery, the QPT 1MHz GaN Motor Drive fundamentally changes the bill-of-materials economics. By delivering elite precision from low-cost motors, QPT is democratizing high-end robotics.
Interested parties can experience these live capabilities, including sensorless diagnostics and digital-twin visualizations, via in-person demonstrations at QPT’s new R&D facility in Edinburgh, or through remote-access setups tailored for international clients.
