How This Humanoid Robot Learns to Fly

Fascination With Robotics How This Humanoid Robot Learns to Fly

2025-06-23 From Sandro Kipar | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendors

In our "Fascination with Robotics" section, we present extraordinary robots to you once a month. Today: A humanoid robot learns to fly.

Stabilizing a humanoid robot in flight is a major challenge because the center of gravity can quickly change. However, with the help of AI, the scientists were able to overcome initial hurdles.(Image: IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia) — Stabilizing a humanoid robot in flight is a major challenge because the center of gravity can quickly change. However, with the help of AI, the scientists were able to overcome initial hurdles.
(Image: IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia)

With the iRonCub3, humanoid robotics is literally taking off into new dimensions. Developed by the Advanced Mechatronics and Interaction Laboratory (AMI-Lab) of the Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in Genoa, the latest prototype combines state-of-the-art humanoid mechanics with jet turbine propulsion and intelligent flight control systems. The result is a robot that can not only walk and grasp but also actively fly. The researchers first reported their findings in Nature Communications Engineering.

Weighing around 154 pounds, the iRonCub3 is based on the third generation of the iCub robot but has been thoroughly revised. A total of four microturbines are integrated into the jetpack and in both forearms, collectively generating over 1000 Newtons of thrust. The design has been entirely adapted to the thermal and mechanical requirements of a flying robot: high-temperature-resistant materials, a titanium spine for load distribution, and specially designed casings protect the internal systems from the turbines' exhaust gases, which exceed 1470°F.

One of the biggest challenges, according to the researchers, was developing an intelligent flight control system. The team relies on a combination of model predictive control (MPC), optimization algorithms, and sensor-based state estimation using inertial measurement data and real-time camera technology. The system is complemented by a deep-learning model capable of capturing and compensating for aerodynamic effects in real-time, using wind tunnel data and Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. This is made possible through a co-design approach, where form, jet positions, and control architecture are optimized together.

"This research radically differs from traditional humanoid robotics and forced us to make a significant leap beyond the current state of the art," says the study leader Daniele Pucci. "Aerodynamics must be assessed in real-time while the control systems must master both slow joint actuators and fast jet turbines. Testing these robots is as fascinating as it is dangerous—and improvisation is out of the question."

Controlled Hovering at 20 Inches Height

The first controlled test flight of the iRonCub3 took place on the roof of the CRIS-Lab: the robot flew at a height of about 50 centimeters with visible stabilization across all axes. Further flight tests in professionally secured environments, including Genoa Airport, are already planned. In parallel, wind tunnel tests are being conducted in cooperation with the Polytechnic University of Milan to further optimize aerodynamic behavior under different load profiles.

For the industry, this opens up completely new perspectives: a humanoid flying robot like iRonCub3 could be used in the future for inspecting hard-to-reach industrial facilities, during emergency operations in dangerous environments, or when accessing destroyed infrastructures. Thanks to its humanoid form, not only does the movement logic remain familiar, but the ability to grasp tools or manipulate controls is also retained—a capability that pure drone solutions cannot currently offer.

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.