Fluid Wire Robotics: Rethinking Manipulation for the World’s Harshest Worksites

Fluid Wire Robotics: Rethinking Manipulation for the World’s Harshest Worksites

In harsh environments, robotics shifts from a question of efficiency to one of survivability. Fluid Wire Robotics, a deep-tech startup based in Pisa, Italy, develops robotic manipulation systems for conditions that are unsafe or inaccessible for humans. Targeted domains include nuclear facilities, on-orbit satellite infrastructure, explosive atmospheres, and underwater infrastructure. The company focuses on rethinking how actuation and force transmission are engineered inside robotic systems. By separating sensitive components from the manipulation structure, its approach aims to improve reliability, durability, and maintainability under extreme physical constraints. According to the company, this architectural design enables robotic manipulation in settings where conventional systems would rapidly degrade or lose performance.

Technology and Product

The company’s core innovation is its Fluid Wire Technology, which relocates motors, sensors, and electronics from the robotic arm into a shielded remote actuation unit. Forces and torques are transmitted through patented Fluid Wires, allowing actuation without sensitive components inside the arm itself. This design keeps the manipulator largely hollow, making it easier to harden for extreme conditions such as radiation, high temperatures, thermal vacuum, and underwater environments. Depending on the application, the actuation unit can be positioned in protected areas or built to operate within hostile environments. The resulting system, according to the company, is modular and configurable, featuring a lightweight, low-inertia arm suitable for integration on fixed or mobile platforms for inspection and intervention tasks.

Fully-electric force-controllable arms with electric motors and sensors in a sealed remote actuation unit. (© Fluid Wire Robotics)

Industrial Fit and Applications

Fluid Wire Robotics’ technology targets sectors where direct human intervention is unsafe, restricted, or impractical. Key application areas include nuclear operations, such as radioactive material handling in hot cells, gloveboxes, and decommissioning en-vironments, as well as space applications, where robotic manipulation is required under vacuum and extreme temperatures for in-orbit servicing, including inspection, repair, refueling, and life-extension. In these environments, robotic systems must operate reliably over long periods with limited maintenance access. The company positions its manipulation architecture to support inspection, handling, assembly, and remote intervention tasks. Its modular and cost-effective approach is intended to simplify integration, support customization without full re-design, and help reduce lifecycle costs across critical infrastructure deployments.

The robotic arms are designed to handle radioactive materials inside hot cells and gloveboxes. (© Fluid Wire Robotics)

Founding Team

Fluid Wire Robotics was founded by Marco Bolignari (CEO), Marco Fontana (CTO), Francesco Damiani (Electronics), Gianluigi Grandesso (COO), and Ivan De Leonardis (CMO).