Exploring novel, scalable energy and propulsion technologies.
Independent R&D exploring compact, scalable energy architectures and future propulsion technologies.
About Us
Chatwood Labs is an independent research venture dedicated to exploring new approaches in advanced computing, applied physics, and energy systems.
We were founded on the belief that science should be driven by curiosity and discovery, even when it challenges conventional assumptions. Our current focus is a patent-pending concept called Wake-Aligned Fuel Injection (WAFI), which explores whether new fueling and regulation strategies could improve plasma stability and energy delivery.
The idea originated from propulsion research, where fuel mass constraints in interstellar mission designs suggested alternative ways of approaching reactor architectures. Building on that insight, we are developing simulation models and preparing early bench-scale non-nuclear experiments to test feasibility.
By combining first-principles problem solving with computational modelling and iterative design, our aim is not to promise a product today, but to explore whether novel ideas can open new pathways to future energy and propulsion systems.
Our Research Focus
Our current work explores a patent-pending concept called Wake-Aligned Fuel Injection (WAFI) - a compact fusion-energy architecture concept developed through simulation and first-principles modelling, with an emphasis on controllability, efficiency, and modularity.
The approach builds on custom simulation studies and early experimental design, aiming to test whether precise fueling and plasma regulation could improve stability and energy density in scalable reactor architectures. While still at an early stage, the goal is to establish a framework that can be critically evaluated and experimentally validated.
Areas of investigation include:
- Compact, modular design - scalable concepts that could be adapted from grid infrastructure to mobile platforms.
- Fueling and control strategies - methods for timing and regulation that may enhance confinement and efficiency.
- Closed-loop safety and control - concepts for continuous, autonomous operation of future experimental systems.
With the initial patent application filed, the next milestones are preparation of a technical paper, structured peer feedback, and early bench-scale non-nuclear experiments to explore feasibility.
Our Principles
- Evidence-Driven R&D - Concepts are guided by measurable results, iterative modelling, and eventual experiments, ensuring bold ideas remain grounded in verifiable science.
- First-Principles Thinking - Problems are broken down to fundamentals, then rebuilt into new approaches to confinement, fueling, and control.
- Transparency - Limitations are acknowledged openly, and results will be shared where appropriate, including through technical papers or collaborations.
- Safety and Control - Operational safety is treated as a core design principle from theory through to any future experiments.
- Cross-Domain Perspective - Drawing insight from computing, physics, and energy systems to approach problems in unconventional but disciplined ways.
Contact
We welcome enquiries from researchers, potential collaborators, and partners interested in exploring our work. Media and press queries are also handled promptly.
For discussions involving sensitive information, confidentiality agreements can be arranged as appropriate.