Balerion Senior Associate Aidan Daoussis sits down with Marco Bolignari, Co-Founder & CEO of Fluid Wire Robotics, to discuss robotic manipulation in extreme environments.
Fluid Wire Robotics is developing a new architecture for robotic arms designed to operate in environments where traditional robotics struggle to survive—radiation, high temperatures, vacuum, and deep ocean pressure. The company’s “fluid wire” transmission system separates sensitive electronics and actuation components from the robotic arm itself, allowing the mechanical structure to remain simple, lightweight, and inherently resilient.
In this conversation, Marco explains the technical foundations of the fluid wire architecture, the engineering challenges of robotics in space and nuclear environments, and how distributed fleets of robotic servicers could support satellite maintenance, in-orbit infrastructure, and the next generation of nuclear energy systems.
00:00 – IntroductionAidan introduces the webinar and welcomes Marco Bolignari, Co-Founder and CEO of Fluid Wire Robotics.
01:00 – The core concept behind Fluid Wire RoboticsMarco explains the company’s goal of enabling advanced robotic manipulation in extreme environments.
03:00 – The “actuation box” architectureHow Fluid Wire separates motors, sensors, and electronics from the robotic arm itself to protect them from harsh conditions.
05:00 – Fluid wire transmission technologyOverview of the fluid-based actuation system that transfers motion from the actuation box to each joint of the robotic arm.
06:00 – What qualifies as a harsh environmentDiscussion of radiation zones, explosive environments, high temperatures, vacuum, and other conditions that prevent human access.
09:00 – The limitations of current robotics in extreme environmentsWhy existing robotic systems are expensive, specialized, and difficult to scale.
10:00 – Robotics applications in spaceHow robotic arms could enable satellite servicing, debris removal, and in-orbit infrastructure.
12:00 – The emerging in-orbit servicing marketWhy future satellites may be designed to be repaired, upgraded, or assembled in space.
15:00 – Advantages of the fluid wire architecture for space systemsBenefits including lower mass, improved thermal management, and easier shielding from radiation.
19:00 – Controlling robotic arms in microgravityChallenges of operating robotic manipulators on a floating spacecraft platform.
23:00 – Business model and partnershipsHow Fluid Wire plans to integrate robotic systems into spacecraft built by other system integrators.
25:00 – Origin of the technologyMarco describes how the fluid wire concept began as a university research project in rehabilitation robotics.
28:00 – The Italian robotics ecosystemDiscussion of the growing European robotics startup and venture capital environment.
31:00 – AI and autonomy in robotic systemsHow human-in-the-loop control compares to autonomous operation in space environments.
35:00 – Robotics as the physical platform for AIMarco discusses the idea of robotic systems serving as the “body” for AI agents operating in the real world.
39:00 – Future robotic configurationsPotential systems with multiple arms, humanoid structures, or specialized robotic platforms for space.
43:00 – Economics of robotics in extreme environmentsWhy current systems are expensive and how universal robotic architectures could reduce costs.
48:00 – The future of orbital servicing infrastructureMarco describes a future with fleets of robotic servicing satellites operating across Earth orbit.
50:00 – Underwater robotics applicationsChallenges of operating robotic manipulators at depth under extreme pressure.
53:00 – Robotics in the nuclear industryThe role of robotics in decommissioning existing reactors and supporting next-generation SMR deployments.
56:00 – Final reflectionsMarco emphasizes the importance of adaptability in technology development and entrepreneurship.
