Compared to the semiconductors that have enabled the electronics industry to provide increased capability with decreased cost, the electric motor has lagged far behind having changed little since its invention by Faraday in 1831. Electric motors are bulky and heavy, consume large amounts of power and are expensive when compared with their semiconductor counterparts. Their analogue nature makes them difficult and expensive to interface with modern digital systems increasing time to market and overall system cost.

Ariadne Capital is working with a company who has developed a breakthrough design of small linear actuators that will replace many small motors in use today.

This device can be connected directly to digital systems with no analogue electronics, using a completely different underlying source of movement than the electric motors they displace. Offering a silent and superior performance, with an order of magnitude decrease in size and cost, typically 1/20th the size and weight and 1/10th the cost of an equivalent electric motor based solution. Electric motor of comparable size would be up to one hundred times more expensive.

Last year manufacturers purchased more than $12b worth of small electric motors for use in a wide range of devices including consumer electrics, computers, office equipment, automotive applications, audiovisual equipment and medical instruments.