MIT Robot Flies and Swims with Same Wings
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- MIT developed a 250-gram robot that flies and swims using identical flapping wings, enabling it to transition between air and water without separate propulsion systems
- MIT engineered the robot to overcome the challenge of operating in both air and water, where most robots rely on different mechanisms for each environment
- MIT designed the robot to mimic diving birds like gannets, whose natural motion inspired the unified wing-based locomotion across mediums
- MIT demonstrated the robot’s ability to plunge from flight into water and continue propulsion below the surface, maintaining functionality in both phases
Why it matters: Most amphibious robots require separate systems for air and water, increasing weight and complexity. By using one set of wings for both environments, this design reduces mechanical overhead and opens paths for more agile, animal-inspired drones that can surveil or sample across fluid boundaries with minimal reconfiguration.
