Robohub.org
ep.

325

podcast
 

The Advantage of Fins with Benjamin Pietro Filardo


by
16 December 2020



share this:


Abate interviews Benjamin “Pietro” Filardo, CEO and founder of Pliant Energy Systems. At PES, they developed a novel form of actuation using two undulating fins on a robot. These fins present multiple benefits over traditional propeller systems including excellent energy efficiency, low water turbulence, and an ability to maneuver in water, land, and ice. Aside from its benefits on a robot, Pietro also talks about its advantages for harnessing energy from moving water.

Watch this episode on YouTube

Benjamin “Pietro” Filardo
After several years in the architectural profession, Pietro founded Pliant Energy Systems to explore renewable energy concepts he first pondered while earning his first degree in marine biology and oceanography. With funding from four federal agencies he has broadened the application of these concepts into marine propulsion and a highly novel robotics platform.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Links



tags: , , , , , , , , , , , ,


Abate De Mey Podcast Leader and Robotics Founder
Abate De Mey Podcast Leader and Robotics Founder





Related posts :

Robot Talk Episode 142 – Collaborative robot arms, with Mark Gray

  30 Jan 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Mark Gray from Universal Robots about their lightweight robotic arms that work alongside humans.

Robot Talk Episode 141 – Our relationship with robot swarms, with Razanne Abu-Aisheh

  23 Jan 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Razanne Abu-Aisheh from the University of Bristol about how people feel about interacting with robot swarms.

Vine-inspired robotic gripper gently lifts heavy and fragile objects

  23 Jan 2026
The new design could be adapted to assist the elderly, sort warehouse products, or unload heavy cargo.

Robot Talk Episode 140 – Robot balance and agility, with Amir Patel

  16 Jan 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Amir Patel from University College London about designing robots with the agility and manoeuvrability of a cheetah.

Taking humanoid soccer to the next level: An interview with RoboCup trustee Alessandra Rossi

and   14 Jan 2026
Find out more about the forthcoming changes to the RoboCup soccer leagues.

Robots to navigate hiking trails

  12 Jan 2026
Find out more about work presented at IROS 2025 on autonomous hiking trail navigation via semantic segmentation and geometric analysis.

Robot Talk Episode 139 – Advanced robot hearing, with Christine Evers

  09 Jan 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Christine Evers from University of Southampton about helping robots understand the world around them through sound.

Meet the AI-powered robotic dog ready to help with emergency response

  07 Jan 2026
Built by Texas A&M engineering students, this four-legged robot could be a powerful ally in search-and-rescue missions.


Robohub is supported by:





 













©2026.01 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence