# Bonus Episode: Robotics for Sustainability (ERF 2026)

- Show: [Robot Talk](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk)
- Published: 2026-08-13
- Length: 32m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026
- Listen: https://ukrobotics.libsyn.com/bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026

## Summary

Claire Asher interviews experts at the European Robotics Forum (ERF) 2026 about robotics for sustainability. Anna Gunker discusses bridging the gap between digitalization and green tech funding. Stafford Suznovsky presents Sea Clear 2, a multi-robot system for marine litter collection, while Daniel Ghost describes Drunkripper, a drone-based litter collection system. Tomas Krenik and Fasha Darwin explain their project using robots to monitor and influence honeybee colonies, and Foster Frere discusses marine robotics for environmental monitoring and energy harvesting.

## Chapters

- [0:07](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=7) Introduction: ERF 2026 Sustainability Workshop
- [0:55](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=55) Anna Gunker: Bridging Digitalization and Green Tech Funding
- [4:10](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=250) Stafford Suznovsky: Sea Clear 2 Marine Litter Collection
- [10:08](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=608) Daniel Ghost: Drunkripper Drone Litter Collection
- [16:35](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=995) Krenik and Darwin: Robots in Honeybee Hives
- [22:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=1346) Foster Frere: Marine Robotics and Energy Harvesting
- [26:54](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/robot-talk/2026-08-13-bonus-episode-robotics-for-sustainability-erf-2026#t=1614) Thomas Heidegger: Economic Sustainability in Robotics

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [Robotics & autonomy](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/robotics-and-autonomy)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Sustainability & circular products](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/sustainability-and-circularity)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Sea Clear 2 (product)
- Drunkripper (product)
- euRobotics (company)
- Karlsruhe (other)
- Technical University of Munich (other)
- RPD University (other)
- Czech Technical University (other)
- Durham University (other)
- University of Zagreb (other)
- Uber University (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [222. Tree-Climbing and Reef-Restoring Robots](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2025-06-17-222-tree-climbing-and-reef-restoring-robots) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [23. Bird-Inspired Drone Wings, Scaling Digital Twins, Tracking Microplastics From Space](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-06-22-23-bird-inspired-drone-wings-scaling-digital-twins-tracking-microplastics-from-s) (The Next Byte Podcast)
- [Bonus Edition - 2023 RBR50 Review](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-04-21-bonus-edition-2023-rbr50-review) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Cloud based robotic fleet management and control](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-robot-report-podcast/2023-05-19-cloud-based-robotic-fleet-management-and-control) (The Robot Report Podcast)
- [Doing the bees’ work with Thai Sade of BloomX](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-01-18-doing-the-bees-work-with-thai-sade-of-bloomx) (How I Built This)

## Citing this page

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