Episode Forty-Five: Francesco Giorgio-Serchi
Francesco Giorgio-Serchi, a Lecturer in Robotics at the University of Edinburgh, discusses the design and control of underwater vehicles for extreme weather conditions. He explains how his team uses anticipatory control algorithms to predict wave disturbances and maintain accurate positioning near offshore renewable energy structures. Additionally, he details the development of soft robotics, including the 'Octobot' and stiffening manipulators inspired by squid and jellyfish biomechanics, which offer both agility and efficiency for inspection and potential medical applications.