“AI is like a bird!” Scientists are building robot ravens

“AI is like a bird!” Scientists are building robot ravens. Scientists in Switzerland have built a revolutionary robotic raven that jumps into the air like a bird. They hope the design could one day eliminate the need for runways for small fixed-wing drones, or eVTOL aircraft. Inspired by birds that fly into the air with powerful leg kicks, researchers led by Dr. Won Dong Shin created “RAVEN”. So far, building a machine that can withstand the enormous forces that occur when a bird jumps off its stunt has proven to be a challenge. However, Dr. Shin’s propeller-powered robot runs, hops and jumps in the air using its legs to mimic the movements of a bird. RAVEN’s legs are inspired by birds, but have been simplified. Unlike real bird legs, which have multiple joints at the hip, knee and ankle, his legs only have two joints at the hip and knee, powered by small motors. Springs in each foot store and release energy to support the jump. This streamlined design helps keep the robot’s weight to just 600 grams. In tests, RAVEN managed to jump almost half a meter into the air while reaching a speed of 2.4 meters per second – comparable to birds of similar size. Once in the air, its propeller turns on to maintain flight. However, there is still a lot to do, because Dr. Shin admits that the next step will be to perfect RAVEN’s ability to land safely.