A bioinspired robot designed to move through both air and water is drawing attention for its bird-like approach to flight and diving. The device uses flapping wings to fly and to swim, aiming to mirror the way some seabirds travel between the sky and the sea.

According to the description of the project, the robot weighs about half a pound and has a wingspan of roughly three feet. Its design was modeled after aquatic birds such as puffins, gulls and loons, species known for handling both aerial movement and underwater propulsion.

One of the hardest parts of the work was getting the machine to switch smoothly from air to water and back again. That transition is something many birds perform naturally, but recreating it in a mechanical system is a major engineering challenge. The snippet identifies Raphael Zufferey in connection with the work.

If the technology continues to improve, the robot could become a useful tool for scientists. A system that can observe conditions above and below the surface may eventually help researchers study diving birds more closely and survey ocean habitats in places where traditional tools are less flexible.