An electrostatic actuator for providing relative translational motion between component parts thereof

An electrostatic actuator for translational motion between a stator and a slider in a longitudinal direction (X), comprising a stator driving electrodes and slider driving electrodes arranged with a respective pitch along said direction (X), wherein said actuator is driven by n power supply outputs and the stator and/or slider driving electrodes are interconnected into n stator and/or slider power busses, characterised in that said slider and stator busses are such that the connection of the n stator busses is configured in a predetermined order, while the connection of the n slider busses are configured in a different predetermined order, each of said n power supply outputs are configurable to provide different phases of time-varying power allowing to create a first and a second potential distribution travelling over the pitch of the stator or slider driving electrodes, in the opposite direction to each other.