GoKawiilMIT engineers build puffin-inspired robot that swims then flies out of water
A team led by MIT's Raphael Zufferey tested a bird-like robot in a water tank and Lake Geneva, finding that medium-sized flexible wings, bird-like flapping frequencies, and a steep 70-degree pitch let it transition smoothly from swimming to flight. Unlike real diving birds, the robot achieved takeoff without needing feet to paddle.
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The design could lead to drones capable of reaching and sampling hazardous or hard-to-access aquatic environments, such as near icebergs or whale pods, according to Zufferey. He suggests such robots might let scientists collect ocean data more cheaply than with boats or traditional research vessels, though this remains an envisioned future use rather than a demonstrated application.
- MIT researchers tested a bird-inspired robot's water-to-air transition in tank and lake trials.
- Optimal performance required medium wing size, bird-like flapping rates, and a steep 70-degree launch angle.
- The robot achieved water-to-air takeoff without feet, unlike many real diving birds.
Source: technologyreview.com — Jennifer Chu, 2026-10-20
Published there as: “It’s a bird, it’s a plane … it’s a robo-puffin?”
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