Abstract: A wave energy converter having at least one energy transmitting device configured to be disposed within a granular medium and including: a flexible envelope forming an internal volume and having an upper surface and a lower surface; at least one inflatable element configured to contain a fluid and housed in the internal volume so as to be interposed between the upper surface and the lower surface; and at least one energy converting device associated to at least one of the inflatable elements and configured to produce energy upon actuation; wherein the wave energy converter is configured to actuates the at least one energy converting device when a wave impinging on the energy transmitting device.

Abstract: A device configured to be disposed within a granular medium to raise a layer thereof, the device having: a flexible envelope forming an internal volume; an inflatable element in the internal volume, interposed between the envelope's upper and lower surfaces, the element's inflation and deflation varying the internal volume; an injection device for filling the inflatable element with a fluid; the device being switchable from a first configuration having the inflated inflatable element occupy a first volume to a second configuration having the inflated inflatable element occupy a second volume greater than the first to deform the upper surface vertically to raise the granular medium's layer, and vice versa; the device further being switchable from the first or second configuration to a third configuration having the envelope's lower surface deform vertically to allow the device to ascend through the granular medium. Also, a method of deforming a granular medium layer.