Specialists of the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) have created an innovative humanoid robot iRonCub3 – the world’s first robot capable of taking off using jet engines and maintaining stability in the air. During the tests, it rose about 50 centimeters, informs Interesting Engineering.
The iRonCub3 model is an improved version of the third-generation iCub robot. It is equipped with four jet engines – two in the arms and two in a “backpack” on the back – which gives the ability to hover. The weight of the robot is 70 kg, and the total thrust of the engines exceeds 1000 newtons. Due to the high temperature of the exhaust – up to 800°C – the device is covered with a titanium case with a heat-protective coating.
The main technical problem for the developers was flight stability: unlike quadcopters, the humanoid has limbs and an elongated body, which significantly affects aerodynamics. To strike a balance, the IIT team developed new flight control algorithms along with artificial intelligence—neural networks trained on simulations and real-world data. The Polytechnic University of Milan and Stanford also joined the project.
Structurally, the iRonCub3 was created using the method of joint design: the shape of the body and the location of the engines were optimized at the same time, which made it possible to achieve high accuracy during flight and withstand temperature loads. The first tests took place in the IIT laboratory, and the next ones at the Genoa airport.
In the future, such robots can be used in rescue operations, research in dangerous areas or natural disaster zones, where the ability to fly and interact with objects is required. Developers consider iRonCub3 a breakthrough in the field of multimodal robotics — a future where robots can not only walk, but also fly.
