techUK Ltd.

04/24/2025 | News release | Distributed by Public on 04/24/2025 02:24

Robot Actuators: Enhancing the productivity by reaching the edge of the possible

24 Apr 2025
by Radhika Gudipat, Jenny Read

Robot Actuators: Enhancing the productivity by reaching the edge of the possible

Breakthroughs in AI are transforming robotic abilities, but the development of robot bodies has not kept pace with advances in computation.

ARIA's Robot Dexterity programme

What is ARIA's Robot Dexterity programme?

Breakthroughs in AI are transforming robotic abilities, but the development of robot bodies has not kept pace with advances in computation. Robots cannot achieve the flexibility, speed, and precision of human manipulation, rendering them useless for many of the difficult or dangerous tasks where we need them most.

This programme's goal is to release the bottlenecks in robotic dexterity and create vastly more capable and useful machines. We're funding an array of cutting-edge research across sensing, actuation, co-design, and advanced simulation. This blog offers a summary of the actuator projects and how they are pushing the current state-of-the-art in robot dexterity and beyond.

Why are actuators important for robots?

'Actuators for robots' are equivalent to 'muscles for humans' - an actuator takes energy as the input and produces motion as the output. Actuators enable the robots to perform the tasks (grasping, manipulating, lifting, etc.) and also interact with the environment. The performance of the robots in terms of accuracy, precision, reliability, etc. is heavily dependent on the actuators that are embedded in the robot bodies.

What's the current state of the art?

There are different categories of actuators and the choice of actuator for a particular application depends on various parameters like power-density, reliability, durability, speed, cost, energy efficiency, precision, etc. The major actuation technologies used today are hydraulic, pneumatic and electric motors. These are all highly mature, dating back to the nineteenth and even eighteenth centuries. In robotics, actuators are usually electric motors, because they are clean, quiet, efficient and powerful and offer precise control over both speed and position. However, electric motors also have some key disadvantages. For one thing, they operate most efficiently at high speed and low torque. While this has been appropriate for many applications in industrial automation, robots often require high torques (to lift things) at low speeds (to work safely alongside humans). Electric motors therefore often require gearboxes to amplify torque and reduce speed. Gearboxes come with their own problems, like reflected inertia, lack of backdrivability and increased cost and weight. The potential offered by new materials, advanced designs, and sophisticated control methods remains largely untapped in actuator technology.

ARIA's Robot Dexterity programme is tackling the problem at several different levels, ranging from miniaturisation and removing the need for gearboxes to exploring new designs and different technologies. These projects aim to deliver a new generation of actuators-highly energy-efficient, intelligent, compact, and bio-inspired-which will enable robots to be more adaptable, efficient, and safer for interaction.

Actuator projects - ARIA's Robot Dexterity Programme

Sangtera - Microhydraulic actuator

Robotic systems currently use inductive servo motors with high gear ratio to achieve high torque, but inherent limitations on energy efficiency and torque density prevent further scale-down to deliver the performance and form factor that suit the needs of a robotic hand. Sangtera is developing the next generation robotic actuator, by improving the size and reliability of electrostatic actuators. Sangtera's actuators, powered by surface tension, offer torque densities hundreds of times greater than traditional options, making possible compact gearless designs. Whereas traditional inductive motors become less efficient the smaller they are made, Sangtera's high-torque actuators can be made compact with no loss of efficiency. Their goal for this project is to develop a powerful actuator small enough to fit into a robotic finger joint. This would enable a completely new design approach towards human-like dexterity: actuating finger joints directly rather than via tendons.

Stellar Advanced Concepts Ltd - Pneumatic actuator

The project's mission is to design and prototype an adaptive pneumatic artificial muscle (PAM) for next-generation robotic systems. Air muscles offer numerous benefits for achieving dexterous robots that are safer for interaction with humans and delicate objects. The compressibility of air in pneumatic actuators makes them a good fit for safe interactions with humans and delicate objects. However, the soft actuator characteristics of current pneumatic muscles does not allow precision position and velocity control at low speeds and varying loads. Stellar AC will develop a novel stacked arrangement of PAMs that offers high-strength precision grip and position, and force feedback, beyond contemporary soft robotic muscles. This unique approach uses contact forces imparted along overbraided sleeves to allow precise control through internal pressure variations. The concept can be extended beyond dextrous manipulators to precise soft-robotic control of mechanical linkages in bio-inspired systems.

Artimus Robotics - Electrohydraulic actuator

Artimus Robotics has developed a fundamentally new class of high-performance soft actuators known as Hydraulically Amplified Soft Electrostatic (HASEL) actuators that use electrostatic forces to pump hydraulic fluids, driving shape change in a soft hydraulic structure. HASELs provide transmission-free linear actuation to enable adaptable, cost-effective, silent, energy-efficient actuation with muscle-like performance. Artimus is already supplying HASELs for underwater robotics, haptic human-machine interfaces, and industrial automation. However, current HASELs need further development to be integrated into human-scale robotic systems. The team's goal in this project is to develop new materials and architectures for HASELs to enable cost-effective dexterous manipulators with high strength, speed, and adaptability for a wide range of markets.

Pliantics - Dielectric elastomeric actuator

Dielectric elastomer actuators (DEAs) are soft actuators with an elastomeric membrane sandwiched between two stretchable electrodes. Application of voltage increases the pressure, stretching the membrane between the electrodes, and the actuator retracts to the original shape upon removing the voltage, demonstrating muscle-like performance. DEAs are popular for their lightweight, high efficiency, silent operation and fast response times. The key disadvantages are high operating voltages, reliability of the material and fabrication challenges. Pliantics is proposing a novel, patent-pending geometry for DEA that can both reduce the operating voltages and ease the fabrication challenges thereby speeding up the production. The team's vision is for their actuators to enable stronger, safer, and more bio-aligned dexterous solutions in robotics, entertainment, automation, and healthcare.

Wavedrives Ltd - Electromagnetic actuator (with unique non-contact magnetic transmission)

Motivated by their experience building humanoid robots and the market demand, WaveDrives has developed and patented the Sarcomere Inspired Linear Actuation (SILA), a novel actuation technology with simple & scalable design. SILA can be operated at low voltages producing high power density and efficiency, low maintenance and near silent operation. Wavedrives is collaborating with aerospace and bionic prosthetics industries to develop advanced SILA actuators, whose technology and manufacturing readiness is increasing rapidly. In this ARIA-funded project, the team will miniaturise the SILA technology, while maintaining its efficiency and power density - to provide the muscle-like actuation and motion control needed for dexterous robotic manipulators at human scale.

Elysium Robotics - Dielectric elastomeric microfibres actuator

The key building blocks of Elysium's actuator are their proprietary dielectric elastomer microfibres. When a voltage is applied the positive and negative charges in the microfibre attract each other, stretching the fibre, and when the voltage is removed the fibre shrinks, resembling the characteristics of human muscle. The unique proposition of Elysium's DEA microfibres is that they can be produced at industrial scale, and bundled together to make strong muscles, all while being lightweight, energy-efficient, and cost-effective. Elysium is aiming to develop full-scale high-performance synthetic muscles that mirror human muscles in strength, speed, and agility. The approach is powered by Elysium's unique fibre manufacturing capabilities paired with their focus on material refinement in this project.

Createc - ElectroMagnetic actuator (resembling biological muscle attributes)

Createc have been using robot arms for robot manipulation for years, but are consistently held back by the limitations of gearboxes in the arms that have them, or in the low strength-to-weight ratio of arms that don't. Gearboxes bring in limitations like backlash (that impacts positional accuracy, repeatability, etc.), increased energy consumption when moving at speed, inertia amplification and loss of back drivability. Not having a gearbox means not being able to produce high torques, while suffering poor control and low efficiency at low speeds. In this project Createc will explore electromechanical actuator designs that more closely mimic the force/power characteristics of biological actuators, while retaining the established advantages of electric motors and gearboxes.

UPWARD (Northwestern University, Texas A&M, Shadow Robot Company) - Switched Clutch Actuation

The UPWARD team will develop a method, called Switched Clutch Actuation (SCA), for the control of advanced robotic hands. With SCA, power from a small number of velocity sources is distributed to the hand's joints via a network of electroadhesion-based clutches. SCA clutches are designed to be low inertia, low power, and very fast, allowing for smooth and efficient control. This approach promises dramatic reductions in the size and weight of robotic hands, increasing their utility for emerging applications such as humanoid robots.

techUK - Unleashing UK Tech and Innovation

The UK is home to emerging technologies that have the power to revolutionise entire industries. From quantum to semiconductors; from gaming to the New Space Economy, they all have the unique opportunity to help prepare for what comes next.

techUK members lead the development of these technologies. Together we are working with Government and other stakeholders to address tech innovation priorities and build an innovation ecosystem that will benefit people, society, economy and the planet - and unleash the UK as a global leader in tech and innovation.

For more information, or to get in touch, please visit our Innovation Hub and click 'contact us'.

Upcoming events

Latest news and insights

08 Apr 2025

Meet the Innovators: Deborah & Aleyne at Samsung

Find out more about Samsung and their leadership within the UK's innovation ecosystem.

19 Mar 2025

Meet the Innovators: Spencer Lamb, Chief Commercial Officer at Kao Data

Discover more about Kao Data and how they're driving innovation.

25 Feb 2025

Event round-up: Jobs, Automation & the Robotics Revolution

Read and watch a summary of techUK's event exploring how robotics and automation will shape jobs in the future.

20 Feb 2025

Institutions of Innovation: Defence Science and Technology Laboratory

Find out more about how the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory is leading on enabling innovation.

14 Feb 2025

Contribute to techUK's Productivity & Automation insight series!

Members and stakeholders can submit blogs or vlogs exploring the future of productivity & automation.

28 Jan 2025

Institutions of Innovation: British Business Bank

Find out more about how the British Business Bank is leading on enabling innovation.

19 Dec 2024

Participate in techUK's upcoming Robotics & Automation sprint campaign

Opportunities include speaking, writing, partnering and shaping policy recommendations.

20 Nov 2024

techUK's first Gaming and Esports report is now live!

This features 8 future tech trends, case studies, and recommendations for Government to make future leadership in gaming and Esports technologies a reality.

Other forms of content

Sprint Campaigns

techUK's sprint campaigns explore how emerging and transformative technologies are developed, applied and commercialised across the UK's innovation ecosystem.

Activity includes workshops, roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and flagship reports (setting out recommendations for Government and industry).

Each campaign runs for 4-6 months and features regular collaborations with programmes across techUK.

techUK's latest sprint campaign is on Robotic & Automation technologies. Find out how to get involved by clicking here.

New Space

Running from September to November 2023, this campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of space technologies, bring more non-space companies into the sector, and ultimately realise the benefits of the New Space Economy.

These technologies include AI, quantum, lasers, robotics & automation, advanced propulsion and materials, and semiconductors.

Activity has taken the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report. The report, containing member case studies and policy recommendations, was launched in March 2024 at Satellite Applications Catapult's Harwell campus.

Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's ongoing work in this area.

Event round-ups

26 Sep 2023

Event round-up - Industries of the Future: Space

This webinar explored the space industry of tomorrow and panellists spoke about what steps the UK can take to become a superpower across a broad spectrum of emerging and transformative space technologies.

31 Oct 2023

Event round-up - Supercharging Investment in Space

This event explored how the UK can improve access to growth capital for space SMEs looking to scale.

12 Dec 2023

Event round-up - Lessons from Yorkshire: How Space Clusters are supporting the UK to become a tech superpower

Click here to view the event recording, speaker slides, and written summary.

Report

Read techUK's first Emerging Space Technologies report

This sets out the key technologies, industries, enablers and actions that will make future UK leadership in space a reality.

Read the report now

Insights

06 Sep 2023

How emerging space technologies are transforming agriculture on Earth

Hear from Agri-TechE about how space technologies are supercharging innovation in agriculture.

24 Oct 2023

Meet the Innovators: Oliver Lanestead, Head of Systems Engineering, Development & Test at Reaction Engines (advanced propulsion)

In our first video interview of the series, learn about Reaction Engines and how they're leading on innovation.

27 Oct 2023

How the Treasury can boost space SMEs and make the UK a Space Finance Hub

Published in advance of techUK's Supercharging Investment in Space event.

03 Nov 2023

The CAA overhauls its Space Regulation website

The changes are a welcome boost for UK companies seeking a space license.

17 Nov 2023

Moving beyond the Clusters: How UK space companies can make the most of international collaboration

A guest insight published in advance of our "Lessons from Yorkshire" space clusters webinar on 5th December.

28 Feb 2024

Institutions of Innovation: Civil Aviation Authority

Learn about how the CAA is at the forefront of driving UK innovation through space regulation.

Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

×

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email: [email protected]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Gaming & Esports

Running from January to May 2024, this sprint campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of the technologies set to underpin the Gaming & Esports sector of the future.

These include AI, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, haptics, cloud & edge computing, semiconductors, and advanced connectivity (5/6G).

Activity took the form of roundtables, panel discussions, networking sessions, Summits, and thought leadership pieces. A report featuring member case studies and policy recommendations was launched at The National Videogame Museum in November 2024.

Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.

Report

20 Nov 2024

techUK's first Gaming and Esports report is now live!

This features 8 future tech trends, case studies, and recommendations for Government to make future leadership in gaming and Esports technologies a reality.

Event round-ups

11 Jan 2024

Event round-up - Industries of the Future: Gaming

This webinar explored the gaming industry of tomorrow and asked what steps businesses can take to lead in the development, commercialisation, application and adoption of the key emerging technologies that will underpin it.

08 Feb 2024

Event round-up: Redefining web 3.0: emerging economies, metaverse technologies, and the new age of the internet (with Shoosmiths)

On January 31 techUK was delighted to collaborate with Shoosmiths on this web 3.0 and metaverse event.

09 Apr 2024

Event round-up - Future Visions: Immersive Gaming

Click here to view the event recording.

16 May 2024

Event round-up - Exploring the future of Esports

This webinar explored the key technologies behind the future of Esports in the UK and asked what more the UK can do to lead on their development and application.

Insights

23 Aug 2024

Game changer: Managing legal risks in the AI and Web3 powered video gaming revolution (by Linklaters)

What's round the corner at the intersection between emerging tech, gaming and regulation?

25 Jun 2024

Call for contributions: techUK's first Gaming & Esports report

Contribute a case study for techUK's first Gaming and Esports report by 25 July.

30 Apr 2024

Meet the Innovators: James Dobrowski, UK Managing Director at Sharkmob (Tencent)

Find out how Sharkmob are promoting a healthy UK innovation ecosystem.

16 May 2024

Reflections from Shoosmiths: techUK's 'Exploring the future of Esports' webinar

Read Shoosmiths' key reflections from techUK's Exploring the future of Esports webinar.

Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

×

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email: [email protected]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/
Web3 & Immersive

Running from July to December 2024, this campaign explored how the UK can lead on the development, application and commercialisation of web3 and immersive technologies.

These include blockchain, smart contracts, digital assets, augmented / virtual / mixed / extended reality, spatial computing, haptics and holograms.

Activity took the form of roundtables, workshops, panel discussions, networking sessions, tech demos, Summits, thought leadership pieces, policy recommendations, and a report (to be launched in 2025).

Get in touch below to find out more about techUK's future plans in this space.

Event round-ups

29 Oct 2024

6 months on from techUK's Unleashing Innovation campaign week

Re-discover the key topics explored during this week of activity in May.

26 Jul 2024

Event round-up: How is AI driving the creation and adoption of immersive technologies?

This webinar explored how these technologies are expected to intersect and what opportunities this will create for businesses.

17 Jul 2024

Event round-up: Future Visions: Web3 and AI

This webinar explored how future advances are set to influence the development and adoption of web3 technologies and artificial intelligence.

13 Jun 2024

Event round-up - Are Synthetic Environments and Immersive Technologies the new military operating environment?

This webinar explored how key emerging technologies will shape the future military operating environment.

09 Apr 2024

Event round-up - Future Visions: Immersive Gaming

Click here to view the event recording.

08 Feb 2024

Event round-up: Redefining web 3.0: emerging economies, metaverse technologies, and the new age of the internet (with Shoosmiths)

On January 31 techUK was delighted to collaborate with Shoosmiths on this web 3.0 and metaverse event.

Insights

20 Nov 2024

techUK's first Gaming and Esports report is now live!

This features 8 future tech trends, case studies, and recommendations for Government to make future leadership in gaming and Esports technologies a reality.

28 Oct 2024

Meet the Innovators: Alex Harvey, Co-founder at RiVR

Learn about RiVR and how they're leading on innovation.

08 Oct 2024

The rise of Esports: Navigating an evolving legal and regulatory landscape (by Linklaters)

This guest insight examines three key areas of legal risk and the role of technology in helping to mitigate these.

16 Sep 2024

A simulation-first approach: In Silico Technologies for Medical Innovation in the Digital Era

Read this guest blog about the future of medical innovation.

23 Aug 2024

Game changer: Managing legal risks in the AI and Web3 powered video gaming revolution (by Linklaters)

What's round the corner at the intersection between emerging tech, gaming and regulation?

Get in touch

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

×

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email: [email protected]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

Campaign Weeks

Our annual Campaign Weeks enable techUK members to explore how the UK can lead on the development and application of emerging and transformative technologies.

Members do this by contributing blogs or vlogs, speaking at events, and highlighting examples of best practice within the UK's tech sector.

25 Oct 2021

techUK's Quantum Commercialisation Week 2021

During this week we will be bringing you news, views and insights from the technology sector on what Quantum Commercialisation will mean to the UK's society and economy. you can read more below #QuantumUK

13 May 2024

techUK Unleashing Innovation Week 2024

#UnleashInnovation - techUK's Technology and Innovation programme is excited to host its innovation campaign week, as part of the Unleashing Innovation campaign, from 13-17 May.

18 Sep 2023

techUK Supercharging Innovation Week 2023

#SuperchargeUKTech - techUK's Technology and Innovation programme is excited to have hosted its innovation campaign week, as part of the Supercharging Innovation campaign, between 18-22 September.

Summits

Tech and Innovation Summit 2023

View the recordings

Tech and Innovation Summit 2024

Watch here

Receive our Tech and Innovation insights

Sign-up to get the latest updates and opportunities across Technology and Innovation & AI.

Rory Daniels

Senior Programme Manager, Emerging Technologies

Rory joined techUK in June 2023 after three years in the Civil Service on its Fast Stream leadership development programme.

During this time, Rory worked on the Government's response to Covid-19 (NHS Test & Trace), school funding strategy (Department for Education) and international climate and nature policy (Cabinet Office). He also tackled the social care crisis whilst on secondment to techUK's Health and Social Care programme in 2022.

Before this, Rory worked in the House of Commons and House of Lords alongside completing degrees in Political Economy and Global Politics.

Today, Rory leads techUK's emerging technologies activity across everything from immersive, web3, AI and robotics to space, gaming & metaverse.

This involves co-running techUK's flagship Innovation campaign, managing four series (including the 'Meet the Innovators' interview series), and launching 4-6-month 'sprint campaigns' on transformative technologies and sectors.

Email: [email protected]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rorydaniels28/

Read lessmore

Related topics

Authors

Radhika Gudipat

Technical Specialist - Robotics, Advanced Research and Invention Agency

Jenny Read

Programme Director, Advanced Research and Invention Agency

techUK Ltd. published this content on April 24, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on April 24, 2025 at 08:24 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at support@pubt.io