<img src="https://spectrum.ieee.org/media-library/advanced-robot-torso-with-mechanical-arms-and-visible-cables.jpg?id=61668516&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=0%2C50%2C0%2C50"/> One of the robotics projects that I’ve been most excited about for years now is <a href="https://ami.iit.it/aerial-humanoid-robotics" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iRonCub</a>, from Daniele Pucci’s <a href="https://ami.iit.it/" target="_blank">Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence Lab</a> at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Genoa, Italy. <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/jet-powered-icub-could-be-the-first-flying-humanoid-robot" target="_blank">Since 2017</a>, Pucci has been developing a jet-propulsion system that will enable an <a href="https://robotsguide.com/robots/icub" target="_blank">iCub</a> robot (originally designed in 2004 to be the approximate shape and size of a 5-year-old child) to fly like Iron Man.Over the summer, after nearly 10 years of development, <a href="https://opentalk.iit.it/en/iit-demonstrates-that-a-humanoid-robot-can-fly/" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">iRonCub3 achieved lift-off and stable flight for the first time</a>, with its four jet engines lifting it 50 centimeters off the ground for several seconds. The long-term vision is for iRonCub (or a robot like it) to operate as a disaster response platform, Pucci tells us. In an emergency situation like a flood or a fire, iRonCub could quickly get to a location without worrying about obstacles, and then on landing, start walking for energy efficiency while using its hands and arms to move debris and open doors. “We believe in contributing to something unique in the future,” says Pucci. “We have to explore new things, and this is wild territory at the scientific level.”Obviously, this concept for iRonCub and the practical experimentation attached to it is really cool. But coolness in and of itself is usually not enough of a reason to build a robot, especially a robot that’s a (presumably rather expensive) multi-year project involving a bunch of robotics students, so let’s get into a little more detail about why a flying robot baby is actually something that the world needs.<hr/> <iframe frameborder="0" height="auto" lazy-loadable="true" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/t1bNHoT4D5Q?rel=0" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;" width="100%"></iframe> In an emergency situation like a flood or a fire, iRonCub could quickly get to a location without worrying about obstacles, and then on landing, start walking for energy efficiency while using its hands and arms to move debris and open doors. IIT Getting a humanoid robot to do this sort of thing is quite a challenge. Together, the jet turbines mounted to iRonCub’s back and arms can generate over 1000 N of thrust, but because it takes time for the engines to spool up or down, control has to come from the robot itself as it moves its arm-engines to maintain stability. “What is not visible from the video,” Pucci tells us, “is that the exhaust gas from the turbines is at 800 °C and almost supersonic speed. We have to understand how to generate trajectories in order to avoid the fact that the cones of emission gases were impacting the robot.” Even if the exhaust doesn’t end up melting the robot, there are still aerodynamic forces involved that have until this point really not been a consideration for humanoid robots at all—in June, Pucci’s group <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/s44172-025-00447-w" target="_blank">published a paper in Nature Engineering Communications</a>, offering a “comprehensive approach to model and control aerodynamic forces [for humanoid robots] using classical and learning techniques.”“The exhaust gas from the turbines is at 800 °C and almost supersonic speed.” —Daniele Pucci, IIT Whether or not you’re on board with Pucci’s future vision for iRonCub as a disaster-response platform, derivatives of current research can be immediately applied beyond flying humanoid robots. The algorithms for thrust estimation can be used with other flying platforms that rely on directed thrust, like eVTOL aircraft. Aerodynamic compensation is relevant for humanoid robots even if they’re not airborne, if we expect them to be able to function when it’s windy outside.More surprising, Pucci describes a recent collaboration with an industrial company developing a new pneumatic gripper. “At a certain point, we had to do force estimation for controlling the gripper, and we realized that the dynamics looked really similar to those of the jet turbines, and so we were able to use the same tools for gripper control. That was an ‘ah-ha’ moment for us: first you do something crazy, but then you build the tools and methods, and then you can actually use those tools in an industrial scenario. That’s how to drive innovation.”<h2>What’s Next for iRonCub: Attracting Talent and Future Enhancements</h2>There’s one more important reason to be doing this, he says: “It’s really cool.” In practice, a really cool flagship project like iRonCub not only attracts talent to Pucci’s lab, but also keeps students and researchers passionate and engaged. I saw this firsthand when I visited IIT last year, where I got a similar vibe to watching the <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/darpa-robotics-challenge-amazing-moments-lessons-learned-whats-next" target="_blank">DARPA Robotics Challenge</a> and <a href="https://spectrum.ieee.org/collections/darpa-subterranean-challenge/" target="_blank">DARPA SubT</a>—when people know they’re working on something really cool, there’s this tangible, pervasive, and immersive buzzing excitement that comes through. It’s projects like iRonCub that can get students to love robotics. In the near future, a new jetpack with an added degree of freedom will make yaw control of iRonCub easier, and Pucci would also like to add wings for more efficient long-distance flight. But the logistics of testing the robot are getting more complicated—there’s only so far that the team can go with their current test stand (which is on the roof of their building), and future progress will likely require coordinating with the Genoa airport. It’s not going to be easy, but as Pucci makes clear, “This is not a joke. It’s something that we believe in. And that feeling of doing something exceptional, or possibly historical, something that’s going to be remembered—that’s something that’s kept us motivated. And we’re just getting started.”

مشروع iRonCub، الذي يقوده دانييل بوتشي في مختبر الذكاء الاصطناعي والميكانيكا، يثير حماسًا كبيرًا في مجال الروبوتات. يهدف هذا الروبوت الطائر، المصمم كطفل، إلى إحداث ثورة في طريقة تفكيرنا حول الروبوتات والأتمتة. يعتبر تطويره مهمًا لأنه يظهر التقدم في الروبوتات الشبيهة بالبشر، مما قد يؤدي إلى تطبيقات جديدة في مجالات متنوعة، بما في ذلك الرعاية الصحية والتعليم. لا يبرز المشروع التقدم التكنولوجي فحسب، بل يثير أيضًا تساؤلات حول مستقبل التفاعل بين البشر والروبوتات.

El proyecto iRonCub, liderado por Daniele Pucci en el Laboratorio de Inteligencia Artificial y Mecánica, está generando entusiasmo en el campo de la robótica. Este innovador robot volador, diseñado como un bebé, tiene como objetivo revolucionar nuestra forma de pensar sobre la robótica y la automatización. Su desarrollo es significativo, ya que muestra avances en la robótica humanoide, lo que podría llevar a nuevas aplicaciones en diversos sectores, incluyendo la salud y la educación. El proyecto no solo destaca el progreso tecnológico, sino que también plantea preguntas sobre el futuro de la interacción humano-robot.

Le projet iRonCub, dirigé par Daniele Pucci au Laboratoire d'Intelligence Artificielle et Mécanique, suscite beaucoup d'enthousiasme dans le domaine de la robotique. Ce robot volant, conçu comme un bébé, vise à révolutionner notre perception de la robotique et de l'automatisation. Son développement est important car il met en avant les avancées dans la robotique humanoïde, ce qui pourrait mener à de nouvelles applications dans divers secteurs, y compris la santé et l'éducation. Ce projet souligne non seulement les progrès technologiques, mais soulève également des questions sur l'avenir de l'interaction entre humains et robots.

The iRonCub project, led by Daniele Pucci at the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence Lab, is generating excitement in the robotics field. This innovative flying robot baby aims to revolutionize how we think about robotics and automation. Its development is significant as it showcases advancements in humanoid robotics, potentially leading to new applications in various sectors, including healthcare and education. The project not only highlights technological progress but also raises questions about the future of human-robot interaction.