Abstract: Bluff bodies are widely used in engineering. The vortex shedding behind bluff bodies can induce vibration and thereby cause structural damage. Adding a splitter plate downstream of a bluff body is an efficient passive control technique. The interaction between shear layers is postponed by the splitter plate. Then vortex shedding and near wake interaction of the bluff body are controlled efficiently, and then the service life of structure will be extended. The body-plate configuration can also be used for energy harvesting. This article presents the current state of wake controlling and power harvesting by setting splitter plates around bluff bodies. The effects of splitter plates on the frequency and mechanical characteristics are analyzed for different shapes of bluff bodies are analyzed. In addition, the development trend of bluff body-splitter plate configuration and the research emphases are also suggested in this paper, and the energy harvesting system which originates from this configuration is pointed out as an important tendency for clean energy utilization.