Motivation Actuators convert energy into force and movement, providing core capability cross-sector. Electric actuation offers greater sustainability, convenience and mobility but fundamental limitations in existing actuation technologies are constraining the solution space. Electric motors spin fast but need gearing to produce slow forceful motion. At automotive scales this mechanical gearing doesn’t impact performance, at humanoid robot/prosthetic scales it does.
Our innovation was to replace mechanical gearing with a magnetic transmission, reusing the magnetic field of the brushless motor. The resulting Sarcomere Inspired Linear Actuation [SILA] has proved capable well beyond the original challenge: to build an actuator enabling truly consumer-friendly robotic and prosthetic solutions.
WaveDrives is an R&D intensive micro-SME based in Bath, UK. WaveDrives’ founders and core team are:
Craig Fletcher
Managing Director
Dr Graham Whiteley
Technical Director
Jill Burnett
Commercial Director
Managing Director, build and quality lead, Craig Fletcher, trained in industrial product design, has 25+yrs experience in mechatronics and actuation design & build, engineering business strategy and management.
Technical Director and SILA Architect, Dr. Graham Whiteley is SILA design authority with extensive domain knowledge, deep understanding of SILA and the technical challenges. Graham trained in industrial product design; has a PhD in design, with a specialism in Medical Physics and Clinical Engineering and 25+yrs experience in mechatronics and motion-control RD&I.
Commercial Director and Projects Lead, Jill trained in mathematics and systems engineering and has 40+yrs experience in systems engineering, innovation, project management and technology commercialisation.