MIT unveils a robot that flies and swims. Now it wants to put it into action

Researchers at MIT have developed a new flapping robot capable of both flight and underwater swimming. This project, led by mechanical engineering professor Raphael Zufferey, aims to provide an affordable, lightweight solution for marine monitoring. The vehicle, known as the Flapping Aerial-Aquatic Vehicle (FAAV), weighs only 250 grams and uses specialized nylon wings coated with water-repellent nanoparticles to navigate different fluid densities.

The engineering challenge centered on how to manage the extreme difference in density between air and water. While diving birds rely on complex wing-folding movements, the MIT team opted for a simpler design with flexible, non-folding wings. This design allows the robot to maintain steady wingbeat frequencies in both environments without requiring the extra weight of multiple mechanical joints. In testing, the robot reached flight speeds of 6 meters per second and swimming speeds of nearly 1 meter per second.

Practical testing took place in both laboratory water tanks and Lake Geneva. The team refined the entry angle to 70 degrees, allowing the robot to transition smoothly from flight to a dive. While the current prototype is limited to mild weather conditions, the researchers are already looking into ways to scale the technology using carbon fiber. A larger version could potentially serve as a low-cost tool for oceanographers tasked with monitoring hazardous environments.

Experts in the field note that while the engineering is significant, the transition from lab prototype to field-ready tool remains the primary hurdle. Conventional propellers currently dominate the market due to their reliability and cost, leaving a gap for specialized bio-inspired platforms to prove their worth. Zufferey continues to work on the project at a new lab facility, focusing on achieving a fully autonomous mission that combines flight, landing, and underwater sampling in one trip. The goal is to produce a tool that performs dangerous sampling tasks, such as monitoring toxic algae blooms or icebergs, at a price point under $1,000.