Researchers from MIT and EPFL have developed a lightweight robotic bird that can move through both air and water, then lift off again using only its flapping wings. The device weighs 8.8 ounces and is designed to mimic the remarkable behavior seen in certain diving birds.
The project focuses on a rare and difficult combination of abilities: stable flight, underwater swimming and a return to the sky without switching to a separate propulsion system. According to the report, the robot can dive beneath the surface and then relaunch into the air, all while relying on wing motion rather than a more conventional motor-driven water system.
The design takes inspiration from birds that hunt by plunging into water and chasing prey below the surface before emerging again. The snippet notes that around 100 bird species show some form of this air-to-water movement, making them a natural model for engineers trying to bridge two very different environments.
This kind of multi-environment robot could help advance research in bio-inspired engineering and robotics. By studying how nature solves the challenge of moving efficiently through both air and water, scientists are working toward machines that can operate in ways traditional aircraft or underwater vehicles cannot.
