106022Modelling and characterisation of Wavedrives' novel 'magnetic screw' actuation technologyClosedCollaborative R&DInnovate UKEfficiency and convenience are driving a global and widespread move from hydraulic and pneumatic to electric actuation. Requirements for more sustainable solutions, safer automated environments, wearable bionic devices, service robots and other human-proximal and off-grid applications are reinforcing this trend and building demand for new types of electric actuation to overcome the limitations of existing technologies. Typical problems are inefficiency, complexity, bulk and cost introduced by gearing and a narrow range of speeds where peak efficiency is achievable.WaveDrives disruptive electric actuation technology responds to this demand, drawing on insights from our deep experience building prosthetic and robotic devices for commercial exploitation. A first linear actuator (SILA) using this technology was launched in 2019. SILA works like a magnetic screw and has integral non-contact transmission, is ultra-efficient, highly scalable, quiet, frictionless, compact, precise with no backlash, ingress-protectable, back-driveable off-power, intrinsically non-jamming, needs little/no maintenance, and is straightforward to manufacture. These and other novel characteristics offer step-change motion-control performance and SILA is already being evaluated for diverse applications in aerospace, prosthetics, construction, defence, logistics and manufacturing. As well as solving motion-control problems in multiple sectors, SILA's ultra-efficient use of energy indicates its potential as a tool to help counter climate change, once in mass production. WaveDrives has developed a spreadsheet that provides guidance on scaling SILA to deliver customer specified levels of thrust. However, prediction issues persist despite extensive effort to reconcile theory with practice and each estimate requires time-consuming experimental confirmation. A more complete, analytical understanding of the magnetic materials and fields utilised in SILA is urgently needed so Wavedrives can confidently specify product versions that will meet customer needs and plan a product range to address the extensive application space. In this project WaveDrives will collaborate with international experts from the National Physical Laboratory(NPL) to develop an analytically derived and validated spreadsheet model and understanding to solve this problem. A reliable and robust description of the forces in the SILA actuator will be produced using an innovative combination of magnetic characterisation, force measurement, and analytical and numerical models, using NPL and WaveDrives' unique facilities and expertise. SILA competes with mature, well-established actuation technologies and actuation is often critical to equipment design. Industry decisions to invest in a disruptive new actuation technology represent a significant commitment . This project will help WaveDrives secure such decisions, improving SILA's competitive position and de-risking WaveDrives technology commercialisation.