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

            AUAI is supported by:



Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack



Related posts :

Robot Talk Episode 166 – Evolving robot bodies and brains, with Rika Antonova

  16 Oct 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Rika Antonova from the University of Cambridge about using artificial intelligence to develop complimentary robot hardware and algorithms.

Humanoid robots can sprint and box – but the real test is doing the laundry

  12 Oct 2026
No robot system can yet reliably handle the whole laundry process. Even folding remains a challenge.

Robot Talk Episode 165 – Robots behind the research, with Kushant Patel

  09 Oct 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Kushant Patel from Brookhaven National Laboratory about robots that work in scientific facilities, such as particle accelerators.

What three days building a robot taught me

and   07 Oct 2026
The brief sounded simple: build a small autonomous robot, then make it survive increasingly difficult mazes. Simple... right? Until you actually have to build one.

Research could guide the future design of social robots

  05 Oct 2026
Giving robot companions animal-like or anime-style faces and voices could maximise their emotional appeal to users, according to new research which could help guide the growing field of social robotics.

Robot Talk Episode 164 – Accelerating robot learning, with Michelle Lu

  02 Oct 2026
In the latest episode of the Robot Talk podcast, Claire chatted to Michelle Lu from Vsim Technology about using simulation and artificial intelligence to teach robots new skills.

Robotics and automation? Informal reflections on familiar terms

IEEE experts reflect on what is meant by the term "robotics and automation".


↑


AUAI is supported by:







Subscribe to Robohub newsletter on substack




 















©2026.05 - Association for the Understanding of Artificial Intelligence