MIT Develops Flapping Robot Capable of Flying and Swimming for Ocean Monitoring
A team at MIT has engineered a $300 flapping robot that can both fly and swim underwater, inspired by the mechanics of diving birds like petrels and puffins. The robot, known as a flapping aerial-aquatic vehicle (FAAV), weighs 250 grams and is powered by a battery-operated motor. It features nylon wings and a tail coated with water-repellent nanoparticles. The FAAV can fly at speeds over 6 meters per second and swim at nearly 1 meter per second. The development team, led by Raphael Zufferey, aims to use this technology for ocean monitoring and protection. The robot has been tested in a water tank in Massachusetts and Lake Geneva, Switzerland, and is designed to operate in mild wave and wind conditions. 
