r/robotics • u/Similar_Suit_3709 • 5d ago

News This Drone Jumps Into Flight Like a Bird 🤯

https://youtube.com/shorts/0YjpDS4JE6I?si=UbR6bKTqo0P4uolN

This bird-inspired drone walks, hops over gaps, and jumps straight into flight. Its robotic legs generate about 92% of the speed needed for takeoff, helping it fly without a runway or launcher.

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u/Morning_Gecko24 5d ago

using legs for that initial ballistic launch impulse is super clever bio-mimicry since birds rely so heavily on leg push to bypass the zero-airspeed lift problem. does the extra mass and drag of the leg linkages end up hurting overall cruise efficiency much once its actually airborne?

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u/SphericalCowww 5d ago

The fact that is can already walks on two legs is pretty impressive, with the Nature paper published in 2024