iRonCub3: World's First Flying Humanoid Robot Takes Off

Watch world's first flying humanoid robot, the baby-faced iRonCub MK3, take off

Researchers have demonstrated the first successful vertical liftoff of a humanoid robot -- a major step toward flying robots that mimic human capabilities. The new robot, dubbed iRonCub MK3, uses four thrusters to achieve vertical thrust, two built into its arms and two in a jetpack mounted on its back. In footage released by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) to YouTube on 18 June, the mask-donning robot is held from a suspender and then activates, lifting off roughly 20 inches (50 centimeters) from the ground using its thrusters. The iCub robot that IIT's humanoid is based on is child-like in both size and appearance. It measures 3 feet (1 meter) tall while weighing 49 pounds (22 kilograms), adopting child-like dimensions, and donning a highly recognizable smooth and shiny "baby face" head. First launched in 2009 by the RobotCub Consortium of European universities, it is designed to be a testbed for research into human cognition and artificial intelligence (AI) and has been used in countless projects over the last 16 years. In a corresponding study describing the robot, published June 1 on the arXiv preprint server, the IIT engineers say their augmented version of the robot is the first such jet-powered flying humanoid robot designed to take off. They added this work highlights the new possibilities that a flying, humanoid robot presents. Related: Robots: Facts about machines that can walk, talk or do tasks that humans can't (or won't) In contrast to many other robotic platforms currently in development, which typically focus exclusively on ground-based locomotion and manipulation, adding aerial mobility may pave the way for assistance in search and rescue missions, traversing collapsed buildings and flooded areas, or other terrain inaccessible to humans, the scientists said in the study. Combining flight with the ability to interact with its environment, a robot of this kind could clear debris and assist in locating or even extracting victims. The authors of the study also point out that a flying humanoid robot could carry out repairs on structures difficult for human beings to access, like the undersides of bridges. They could even be deployed in hazardous environments where people can't safely operate, like the site of a nuclear or chemical leaks. iRonCub is based on IIT's iCub3 platform. This system is designed to allow a robot to emulate a number of human capabilities as it's being remotely controlled by an operator wearing a virtual reality (VR) helmet-like heads-up display (HUD) and other specialized equipment. To equip the iCub for flight, the team added load-bearing mounting brackets to secure the jetpack and a new titanium spine to support its weight. Because previous versions of the iRonCub had issues with catching fire from the thrusters' exhaust, heat-resistant panels and covers were added to the iCub chassis. The thrusters' tilt angle was also adjusted to help with in-flight stability and to angle the exhaust away from the robot's body. For this version, the robot's forearms and hands were removed to make space for the arm-mounted thrusters, but the team says the forearms are still fully compatible and will be readded in later iterations. To ensure the chassis could handle the stress of takeoff and flight, the team performed a Finite Element Method (FEM) analysis -- a problem-solving technique that centers around breaking a structure down into smaller interconnected components. As a result, they applied axial loads of 750 newtons (three times the peak thrust of each turbine) to the brackets of the jet engines. One of the major challenges of achieving flight in a humanoid robot of this type is accounting for all of the joints and actuation points and adjusting them, as well as the thrusters, in a coordinated way, so the robot doesn't end up flying off course or upside down. The engineers managed this with what's called a Linear Parameter Varying Model Predictive Control (MPC), a complex flight controller that's constantly computing the optimal joint position and jet throttle. The scientists extensively tested the system first in computer simulations before then launching real-world tests, in large part due to the safety risks of operating thrusters with exhaust temperatures in excess of 1,112 degrees Fahrenheit (600 degrees Celsius). After successfully demonstrating a launch with a predefined trajectory and accurate tracking, the team now plans to focus its efforts on improving the flight controller to handle external disturbances that may occur during a real flight scenario, like wind or other inclement weather.

Jetpack-strapping rescue robot achieves stable lift and hover

The iRonCub3 prototype tethered to its evaluation rig at the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence group's lab For the last few years, Italian engineers have been working on a humanoid robot for emergency response applications. The iRonCub3 has jets on its back and fire-breathers on its arms, and has now achieved stable take-off and hover for the first time. Editor's note: Readers often ask us for follow-ups on memorable stories. What has happened to this story since publication? This article was originally published last year but has been re-edited and updated with new information current as of June, 2025. Enjoy! The project from the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence group at the Italian Institute of Technology (Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) has taken a child-like biped designed for AI research - the iCub - and aims to get it off the ground using jet power. As well as strapping a twin-jet pack to its back, the team also sacrificed the original robot's flexible human-like hands in favor of more fire-breathing JetCats. Thrust is said to max out at 1,000 N (around 225 lbf) and exhaust temperatures can get as high as 800 °C (1,472 °F). "iRonCub3 represents a major leap forward from earlier versions of the iRonCub project," the engineers told us. "While the original versions were used to develop and test components in isolation - such as jetpack design, estimation algorithms, or aerodynamic learning - iRonCub3 is the first complete system to integrate all those elements into a fully functional flight-capable humanoid robot." The Tony Stark-inspired iRonCub3 has been treated to a newly developed titanium spine to help it cope with the forces at play, and has had heat-resistant covers applied instead of the funky outer suit on earlier prototypes. New electronics were designed, force-torque sensors installed in the jetpack and components removed to make way for the updated system. The team told us that its forearms have been "carefully engineered using FEM analysis to support realistic flight dynamics" and that the humanoid also features "an advanced multi-rate control architecture, including a Model Predictive Controller tailored to the nonlinear and multi-frequency actuation of jets and joints." As of August last year, the jet-powered humanoid had been tested in a wind tunnel to validate aero simulations, and the jets had all been successfully powered up a number of times. The team has since developed "an advanced control model for systems composed of several interconnected parts" as well as AI-based models for real-time estimation of aerodynamic forces. As you can see in the video above, the iRonCub3 prototype - which weighs in at 70 kg (154 lb), including the jets - managed to achieve stable lift-off and relatively stable hover, though its time aloft during each test was quite short. The researchers certainly haven't made it easy for themselves, with the multiple shapes of the robot's body and its moveable arms adding complexity to the AI-based flight control systems. "Our models include neural networks trained on simulated and experimental data and are integrated into the robot's control architecture to guarantee stable flight," revealed the team's Antonello Paolino, first author of a paper on the recent developments. The humanoid, its onboard sensor suite (an inertial measurement unit, force-torque sensors and a RealSense depth camera) and its control systems are reported robust enough to handle extreme operating environments. The team says that this combination should also allow the robot to "maintain posture and stability even during non-stationary maneuvers, such as sequential engine ignition or changes in body geometry." But that's something for the future. Up until now, the project has undertaken development and flight testing at a small area within the Italian Institute of Technology campus. But as work progresses, the project will need a larger space for experimentation - and that's been made possible thanks to a collaboration with Genoa Airport. "This research is radically different from traditional humanoid robotics and forced us to make a substantial leap forward with respect to the state of the art," explained team lead, Daniele Pucci. "Here, thermodynamics plays a pivotal role - the emission gases from the turbines reach 700 °C temperature and flow at nearly the speed of sound. Aerodynamics must be evaluated in real-time, while control systems must handle both slow joint actuators and fast jet turbines. Testing these robots is as fascinating as it is dangerous and there is no room for improvisation." The eventual aim is to have humanoids that can fly to a disaster/emergency site to perform aerial inspections or provide remote personnel with key data. But it will also be able to land and walk around, move over obstacles, climb stairs, open doors and so on. This adaptability could be useful for inspecting dangerous buildings or infrastructure. Source: Italian Institute of Technology

AI-Powered Humanoid Robot Achieves Controlled Flight Using Jet Engines

Robot integrates multibody dynamics with thrust and balance strategies A jet-powered human robot has taken to the skies, and this time it's managing to stay in the air and even move around mid-flight, thanks to some nifty AI and heavy integration. The iRonCub3, developed by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), managed to fly in the air at 50 cm off the ground during testing - a massive advance in the world of robotics. Engineered to operate in the real world, the 70-kilogram robot is powered by four microjet turbines and advanced neural controllers. This prototype of the testbed system can stably hover in gusty wind conditions. The study, inspired by two years of design, experimentation, and simulation, seeks to extend robotics into extreme, unstructured terrains with aerial capabilities. As per a Communications Engineering report, the project is spearheaded at IIT's Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence (AMI) Lab in Genoa by Daniele Pucci, along with Milan Polytechnic and Stanford University. The group designed a neural network-based real-time aero analysis integrated AI system. Such systems, learnt based on both experimental and simulation data, enable the robot to maintain stability in takeoff and during dynamic flight. Additional contributions include thermodynamic assessments, wind tunnel tests, and aerodynamic modelling of the robot's human-like multibody form. Unlike traditional drones, the iRonCub3's limbs are elongated and movable, which forced researchers to develop models that could account for thrust, mass, and motion. Meanwhile, titanium spine reinforcements and heat-resistant components mean it can cope with exhaust from the turbines at a blistering 800°C, while precision sensors, integrated jet control, and body re-engineering allow for secure and precise takeoff and flight. Neural models manage rapidly shifting airflow and posture changes caused by limb motion. Engineers used a co-design approach to determine optimal turbine placement and cooling strategies. The real-time AI feedback loop allows the robot to navigate flight with human-like balance, despite aerodynamic complexity. Hovering trials at IIT's facility have been successful; tests at Genoa Airport are next in line, complying with safety regulations. The developed humanoid aerial robot can be used for disaster search and rescue, dangerous field inspection, and autonomous home exploration. Combining flight with human-like mobility, iRonCub3 marks a pioneering breakthrough in robotics and a potential model for agile machines designed to work in places where humans and traditional drones can't easily reach.

World's first flying humanoid robot takes off - VnExpress International

Developed by the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT), the 70-kilogram robot lifted off the ground by about 50 centimeters during indoor trials, combining AI, aerodynamic control systems, and human-like body motion to stay balanced mid-air, according to tech site Interesting Engineering. The robot features four jet engines, two on its arms and two mounted on a backpack unit, designed to keep it stable in the air, even in turbulent conditions. Its titanium spine supports its structure and withstands the 800°C exhaust from the turbines, while heat-resistant coverings shield critical components. "This research is radically different from traditional humanoid robotics and forced us to make a substantial leap forward with respect to the state of the art," Daniele Pucci, head of the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence Lab at IIT, said. "Testing these robots is as fascinating as it is dangerous, and there is no room for improvisation." The team's findings on aerodynamics and control systems were published Wednesday in the journal Nature. Unlike standard drones, which are compact and symmetrical, iRonCub3 has a longer torso and movable limbs, creating shifting aerodynamics and a dynamic center of mass. To address this, researchers developed real-time flight control models and aerodynamic estimators, according to Tech Xplore. IIT collaborated with the Polytechnic of Milan for wind tunnel testing and with Stanford University for machine learning integration. These AI systems help the robot adapt to changing airflow and limb positions, enabling it to manage complex transitions during takeoff, such as sequential jet ignition and structural movements. The project took two years to develop. Initial flight tests were conducted in IIT's indoor lab, while future tests are planned at a dedicated flight zone at Italy's Genoa Airport. Researchers say humanoid flying robots like iRonCub3 could be used in search-and-rescue missions, hazardous environment inspections, and exploratory operations that require both aerial mobility and the ability to manipulate objects.