World’s first flying humanoid robot with jet engines debuts in Italy

Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) have developed and successfully tested iRonCub3, the world’s first jet-powered humanoid robot capable of hovering mid-air. Equipped with four jet engines—two on its arms and two on a backpack—and a titanium spine to withstand extreme heat from exhaust gases reaching 800°C, the 70 kg robot lifted off about 50 centimeters in initial indoor tests. iRonCub3 integrates advanced AI and aerodynamic control systems to maintain stability despite its asymmetrical, human-like form and shifting center of mass, a challenge not present in traditional drones. The robot’s flight control relies on neural networks trained with simulated and experimental data, enabling it to adapt to turbulent airflows and dynamic limb movements in real time. The development of iRonCub3 involved a co-design approach optimizing both the robot’s physical structure and engine placement to maximize flight control and thermal resilience. Collaborations with the Polytechnic of Milan and Stanford University contributed to wind tunnel testing and machine learning integration