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Robot Inspired By Diving Birds Can Fly And Swim
DOGO News • • science
Key Points:
- Researchers at MIT, led by Raphael Zufferey, developed the FAAV, a lightweight flapping-wing robot inspired by diving birds like Atlantic puffins, capable of seamlessly transitioning between flying and swimming.
- To address the challenge of moving through water, which is much denser than air, the robot features flexible wings that bend up to 90 degrees underwater, eliminating the need for complex folding mechanisms.
- Testing revealed that medium-sized wings provided an optimal balance for both underwater propulsion and flight lift, with water-repellent coatings helping the robot shed water and take off without paddling its feet.
- The robot achieved swimming speeds of nearly 1 meter per second and flight speeds of about 6 meters per second, comparable to real diving birds, and can take off directly from water using only its wings.
- Published in Science on July 9, 2026, the team plans to enhance the robot's maneuverability and test it in challenging conditions, aiming to use it for frequent, efficient ocean data collection across multiple locations.
