Italy’s Jet-Powered Humanoid Robot ‘iRonCub3’ Takes Flight with Real-Time AI Control

In a groundbreaking technological feat, researchers at Italy’s Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) have successfully launched a humanoid robot, iRonCub3, into controlled flight using four miniature jet turbines guided by real-time artificial intelligence.

The 70-kg humanoid robot, equipped with two jet engines on its arms and two on its back, lifted about 50 centimeters off the ground during tests conducted in IIT’s Genoa lab. The robot maintained balance and stability even when subjected to simulated wind disturbances, marking a major leap forward in the field of aerial humanoid robotics.

The powerful jet turbines collectively generate over 1,000 newtons of thrust, with exhaust temperatures soaring up to 800°C. To withstand these extreme conditions, iRonCub3 was reinforced with a titanium spine and heat-resistant materials.

One of the core challenges addressed by the IIT team was maintaining aerodynamic balance while preserving the robot’s human-like form. Engineers designed custom flight-control algorithms, supported by neural networks trained on real and simulated flight data. These systems enable iRonCub3 to compute aerodynamic forces and adjust its posture and thrust in real time.

Collaboration with institutions like the Polytechnic of Milan and Stanford University helped enhance the robot’s aerodynamic performance. Wind-tunnel testing and computational fluid dynamics modelling played a key role in refining the AI systems responsible for in-flight adjustments.

Daniele Pucci, who heads IIT’s Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence lab, emphasized that the development represents a “significant leap” for robotics, as the fusion of AI, aerodynamics, and humanoid design is unprecedented.

Future applications for iRonCub3 could include aerial search and rescue, inspections in hazardous environments, and multi-modal missions requiring both mobility and human-like dexterity.