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In this special episode of Electronic Design’s Inside Electronics, sponsored by DigiKey and Qorvo, Guest Host David Maliniak of Microwaves & RF, speaks with Qorvo General Manager Debbie Gibson and Principal Product Manager Suma Kapilavai about RF design for drones.
Debbie Gibson emphasizes that size, weight, power, cost, and development speed—SWAP-C—must be balanced together rather than treated as separate priorities. Suma Kapilavai explains that software-defined radios favor wideband RF front ends, which simplify operation across broad frequency ranges and allow platforms to evolve without complete redesigns. Narrowband approaches remain useful when licensed-spectrum rules, nearby-band interference, or filtering needs demand tight frequency control.
The guests discuss SDR challenges, including achieving broadband performance, linearity, efficiency, and signal integrity among multiple onboard radios. They note that off-the-shelf modular components reduce schedule and technical risk by adapting proven technologies from WiFi, infrastructure, mobile, and defense applications.
Looking ahead, greater range, data capacity, drone swarms, AI integration, mesh networking, EMI control, and satellite communications will intensify RF tradeoffs.
