Robot from MIT and EPFL engineers that can both fly and swim
Inspired by gulls and puffins, engineers have developed a lightweight robot capable of both flying in the air and swimming underwater.
Inspired by birds in nature, engineers at MIT and EPFL have designed an innovative robot weighing less than 300 grams named FAAV, which can both fly in the air and move underwater.
Robot technology inspired by nature
While robotics technologies continue to take inspiration from living creatures in nature, engineers have unveiled a new system that mimics the traits of birds like gulls and puffins, which can both fly and move underwater. Weighing less than 300 grams, this system utilizes two flexible wings and a steerable tail mechanism.
The ability to emerge from water and fly in the air
The most striking feature of the robot named FAAV is its ability to transition directly into flight by flapping its wings after surfacing from moving underwater. Researchers tested different wing sizes, flapping speeds, and tail angles to determine the optimal structure for the transition between air and water.
Speed and mobility tests
Experiments revealed that the robot can move at speeds of approximately one meter per second underwater and about six meters per second in the air. The system was able to emerge from about half a meter under water to the surface and take flight without needing the foot-paddling motion used by waterbirds.
Design details and special coatings
The robot's wings feature a hydrophobic coating that allows water to shed from the surface more easily. Inside the body, there is a battery and a waterproof electric motor, while the flexible wings are designed to suit both water and air conditions.
Goal of use in ocean research
The researchers' long-term goal is to use such robots in marine regions that are difficult for humans or conventional research vehicles to reach. It is planned that the robots will take off from a shore or boat to travel to various regions, dive into the water to take measurements, and collect data.
Future goals and testing phases
Among the team's next goals are granting the wings turning maneuverability and testing the robot in harsher conditions such as rough seas and strong winds. This technology could pave the way for collecting data from the oceans more frequently and at a lower cost.