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.