New winged robot can fly and swim like a puffin
MIT researchers have developed a biomimetic robot capable of both flying and swimming, modeled after diving birds like puffins. This technology aims to assist scientists in monitoring marine ecosystems more efficiently.
Why it matters
This innovation could revolutionize environmental monitoring by providing a non-intrusive way to study fragile ocean habitats.
With a flap of its wings, something resembling a bird dives into the water, swims around and soars back into the skies. But it’s not a bird, it’s a robot. And the researchers who created it think that it could be a big help in studying ocean habitats.
For years, scientists have hoped to emulate the movements of diving birds, such as puffins, to create machines that can quietly dip in and out of the water. Such robots could help researchers monitor fragile marine ecosystems, without chartering a research vessel or deploying underwater equipment.
But creating a robot that is as capable in the water as in the sky is a complex engineering challenge. Now, a team of researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) have created a waterproof winged robot with all the right moves, according to a study published last week in the journal Science .
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