WESTBURY engineer, Snir Benedex has invented a smart, light and extremely powerful motor system, originally for mobility scooters, but could now be adapted for multiple uses across the world.
Snir explained, “Last year, I founded the company Benedex Ltd based in Westbury. I’m originally an aerospace engineer since 2000 but I’ve been involved in electric motor systems and electronics for the last 10 years or so. Using what I know, I created the motor system, and with the help of a local patent lawyer, submitted a patent application on it.
“It was engineered to weigh no more than 25lb, so light that it could be picked up easily by most anyone. But it still had to carry a 16 stone person up the steepest streets. I got the idea of what it must be able to do from Bradford on Avon and Bath, thinking how some of the elderly locals there could get from the town centre back home.
“Late in 2019, with some help from Councillor Carole King, I was connected with Business West, and accepted into their “Innovate to Succeed” programme, which gave me the basics of what it means to be an entrepreneur. Then, little by little, the product concept matured and developed.
“The resulting design was not only that of a very light mobility device, it was also the only mobility device in the world which was able to fold down to a size so small it could be carried into the cabin of a normal airplane and stowed in the overhead compartment. That means its user could ride it all the way into the very doorway of the plane and immediately out of the doorway upon landing, not relying on people in wheelchairs or electric cars at the destination.”
Snir’s design was ready in March, coinciding with the first lockdown. He decided to put the design on hold during the pandemic. However, having been furloughed from his job, he had times to consider other uses for the motor system, and came up with the idea of robotics.
Snir said, “Due to the need for social distancing, robotics was expected to grow wildly. Processes and services not involving human-to-human contact were drawing great interest and industries were talking about building robots left right and centre. Using my system enabled small robots to be fast, powerful, and be very energy-efficient, making the most out of their batteries.
“This idea was well received. Benedex Ltd was welcomed into the Bristol Robotics Laboratory Hardware Incubator, one of the largest organisations in UK and EU for bringing together industry and academia, belonging to the University of the West of England and Bristol University. Towards the end of 2020, we received major recognition for our innovation and the company was awarded a six-figure funding grant, allowing us to expand, design and develop our product here in the UK, by our amazing team. Benedex today has a team of 7 people skilled in engineering, design, finance and management.
“We are developing a unique unmanned robotic system. Using this system, platforms are able to carry greater loads compared to other robots, travel faster on road or offroad, and use less energy doing it, because of its extreme efficiency.
“It can be used for a great variety of purposes, like warehousing and logistics, as well as defence purposes like bomb disposal or reconnaissance.
“Despite these great capabilities, it is small in size, lightweight and it can actually be fitted on existing devices, giving them mobile capability. We are currently attempting to fit it on hospital beds, making patients easily transportable by one person, in order to increase NHS staff availability and reduce risk of infection among medical staff, porters and cleaners. The best thing about it is being truly universal, fitting any bed of any make and any size, and once it is ready, it can be rapidly deployed throughout the UK and exported as well.
“So far it has been and still is an amazing experience and the support and good vibes this project has drawn is overwhelming. This little startup sprang out of Westbury is receiving national recognition and everyone on board is working diligently towards creating technology which could put the United Kingdom on the forefront of global innovation in robotics, and certainly as an innovator, pitching in to help the NHS and hopefully the world in the fight against the Covid19 pandemic.
