In a significant breakthrough for robotics technology, engineers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have created a real-life transformer robot that can morph its shape while airborne, enabling smooth transitions between aerial and ground operations.
The innovative robot, named ATMO (aerially transforming morphobot), represents a major advancement in multi-modal robotics. Unlike conventional flying-and-driving robots that must land before transforming, ATMO can reconfigure itself mid-flight, allowing it to navigate challenging terrains that would otherwise cause traditional robots to become stuck.
"We designed and built a new robotic system that is inspired by nature—by the way that animals can use their bodies in different ways to achieve different types of locomotion," explains Ioannis Mandralis, lead author of the research published in Communications Engineering.
ATMO employs four thrusters for flight, with protective shrouds that ingeniously transform into wheels for ground travel. The entire morphing process relies on a single motor that moves a central joint, shifting the thrusters between drone and drive configurations. What makes this system particularly remarkable is its sophisticated control algorithm that manages the complex aerodynamic forces experienced during transformation.
The technology could revolutionize applications ranging from package delivery to search-and-rescue operations, where the ability to navigate both air and ground without interruption provides unprecedented versatility.
In a parallel development, researchers at the University of Osaka have engineered an innovative insect cyborg system that can navigate autonomously without wires, surgery, or electrical stimulation. Their approach uses a small ultraviolet light helmet to guide cockroaches by leveraging their natural tendency to avoid bright light. This non-invasive method preserves the insect's sensory organs while maintaining consistent control, overcoming limitations of traditional cyborg insects that rely on electrical stimulation.
These advancements highlight how AI-driven robotics is evolving beyond software applications like chatbots toward physical systems that can intelligently navigate real-world environments, manipulate objects, and make reasoned decisions based on environmental feedback.