Actuation Lab

After completing their PhD's in composite materials together at the University of Bristol in 2017, the three friends began discussing a new collaboration that could build on past work with composite artificial muscles, functional 3D printed energy absorbing structures and novel strategies for print file generation. They soon arrived at the Actuation Lab concept. The cost of engineering complex structures has dropped rapidly with the maturing of digital design and manufacturing, particularly with regards to 3D printing. What this means is devices with simplified manufacture and improved reliability. It means replacing expensive materials with low-cost materials, structured in intelligent ways. It means unprecedented power-to-weight output can be achieved through facilitating the most efficient distribution of materials for the desired functionality. In 2018 we were runner-up in the university of Bristol new enterprise competition, and in 2019 began working from the SetSquared business incubator at Brunel's Bristol engine Shed. Github