Engineers Develop Robot Inspired by Puffins for Aerial and Aquatic Exploration

Engineers at MIT and EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland, have developed a robot capable of transitioning between swimming in water and flying in the air, inspired by birds such as gulls and puffins.

The robot, termed a “flapping-wing aerial-aquatic vehicle” (FAAV), weighs less than 300 grams (about half a pound). It features a central fuselage, two flexible wings, and a steerable tail. The body houses a battery and a waterproof electric motor that drives a crankshaft, enabling the wings to flap at preset frequencies. The wings are constructed from thin membranes coated with hydrophobic nanoparticles to repel water, while the motorized tail adjusts its angle to facilitate ascent or descent.

In experiments conducted in a water tank and at Lake Geneva, a team led by Raphael Zufferey, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at MIT, identified optimal combinations of wing size, flapping frequency, and tail angle for smooth transitions between swimming and flying.

The most effective configuration involved medium-sized wings that were flexible enough to minimize flapping amplitude in water while remaining firm enough for flight. The robot achieved speeds and flapping frequencies comparable to those of real birds, and a steep pitch of 70 degrees enabled it to leap from the water into the air. Notably, the robot did not require feet for takeoff, unlike many diving birds.

The findings could lead to new types of drones and vehicles capable of flying to and sampling aquatic areas that are too hazardous for conventional vessels.

According to Zufferey, “Our dream vision is for oceanographers, marine biologists, and members of coastal communities to launch this robot from a boat or from shore. It would fly close to areas of interest, such as icebergs or pods of whales, dive to collect samples, and return with data at a fraction of the cost of traditional methods. Then it could go back out to dive for more.”

The research team is now focused on designing wings that can both flap and turn. They also plan to test the robot’s performance in turbulent conditions, such as choppy waters and windy environments, with the goal of deploying the vehicle for ocean science applications.

Zufferey noted, “One of the major challenges in ocean science is collecting data both frequently and across many locations, which is something this robot could do in the future. You could send this out not just every week, but every hour. It could fly out at high speeds, dive in, fly back, deliver its data, and go back out multiple times.”

Source: MIT Technology Review