Research
Engineers at EPFL and MIT have designed a flapping-wing robot that can swim underwater and then leap into the air to fly, inspired by diving birds such as loons and puffins. The robot, weighing less than 300 grams, could help researchers understand how birds adapt their flight mechanics between air and water, and may lead to a new class of aerial-aquatic drones.
The “flapping-wing aerial-aquatic vehicle” (FAAV) features a central fuselage, two flexible flapping wings, and a steerable tail that can be swapped for different sizes. In experiments conducted in a water tank and a lake, the team identified combinations of wing size, flapping frequency, and tail angle that enable smooth transitions from swimming to breaking the surface to flying.
The design could also launch a new class of aerial-aquatic drones and vehicles.
The results, published in Science, provide insights into how diving birds adapt to the different physical properties of air and water. The researchers envision such winged robots could be deployed to fly to and sample from aquatic regions that would otherwise be too dangerous for traditional ocean vessels to access.
Source: Robohub