Weighing Under 300 Grams, This MIT-Developed Robot Can Both Fly and Dive Underwater.

A Breakthrough Robot from MIT and EPFL

According to ITC.ua — Техно: Engineers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in partnership with Switzerland’s École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), have unveiled a groundbreaking robot capable of both flying through the air and submerging underwater. Weighing less than 300 grams, the device features a central fuselage, two flexible wings, and a tail stabilizer. Its innovative design allows it to operate efficiently across two very different environments.

Specs and Capabilities

The robot’s wings are made from thin membranes coated with hydrophobic nanoparticles, ensuring both a lightweight structure and high performance in air and water. The research team produced three interchangeable wing sets in different sizes:

• Small (60 cm)
• Medium (80 cm)
• Large (100 cm)

These options allow the robot to be adapted for various use cases.

Performance metrics are impressive: underwater, it can swim at speeds of up to 1 meter per second, while in the air it reaches up to 6 meters per second. To transition from water to air, the robot needs to tilt at a 70-degree angle, enabling an efficient shift between media.

“Ideally, we want oceanographers, marine biologists, and people living in coastal areas to be able to launch this robot from a boat or from the shore.” — Raphael Zufferey

The research detailing this robot was published in the journal Science, opening up new possibilities for studying aquatic ecosystems and monitoring the environment.

This creation marks a significant step forward in technology that bridges aerial and aquatic exploration. Its versatility could make it a valuable tool for studying and preserving marine ecosystems—an increasingly urgent need given global climate change and the depletion of natural resources. It also highlights the potential of interdisciplinary research at the intersection of robotics and ecology.