Posted June 21, 2025
The Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) has achieved a major milestone in humanoid robotics with the first flight of the iRonCub3. The jet-powered flying humanoid robot lifted about 50 cm off the ground while maintaining stability.
The total work on the iRonCub3, including real flight tests, took about two years. The robot has a titanium back, four turbines and heat-resistant armor that can withstand 800 °C exhaust and gas streams at sonic speed.
Unlike conventional drones, which have symmetrical and compact structures, the iRonCub3 has an elongated shape, with masses distributed over movable limbs and a variable center of mass. This required the development of advanced flight balance models that take into account the robot’s multi-body dynamics and the interaction between jet propulsion and limb movements.
Dr. Daniele Pucci, the head of the artificial and mechanical intelligence lab at the Italian Institute of Technology, says: “This research is radically different from traditional humanoid robotics and forced us to take a significant leap forward with regard to the latest technology. Here thermodynamics plays a central role – the exhaust gases from the turbines reach 700°C at a speed of sound almost 700°C. evaluated in real time, while control systems have to 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.
This video shows the robot’s small but significant lift of 50 centimeters.
The study was published in Nature communication technique.
Image: IIT-Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia
