Flying Rescue Robots Under Development in Italy

Jet-powered humanoid robots that fly to the rescue: What has been science fiction is now becoming science fact. That’s because Italy’s Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) is currently developing a jet-powered, AI-controlled humanoid robot called iRonCub3. It could bring EMS assistance to patients in the field, along with a host of other innovative missions.  

Daniele Pucci is the Principal Investigator of IIT’s Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence research unit. Their team is integrating artificial intelligence with Physics to develop the next generation of humanoid robots based on the iCub platform. “The iRonCub3 is an advanced humanoid robot equipped with four jet engines — two mounted on its arms and two on a jetpack on its back,” he told EMS World. “It is designed to combine traditional walking with aerial capabilities. The robot weighs about 70 kg [154 lbs] and is powered by JetCat P250 engines capable of producing more than 1000 Newtons of thrust. The exhaust temperatures exceed 600°C, so we’ve integrated heat-resistant covers to protect the structure.” 

Talk about strong: To carry the weight of its four jet engines, electronics, and humanoid structure, the iRonCub3 is built around a titanium spine. “Its design and performance are validated using a CAD [computer-aided design] model in PTC Creo, with kinematics and dynamics information being regularly updated for control, planning, and simulation purposes,” said Pucci. At present iRonCub3 is in the testing phase, meaning that it exists and is being put through its paces by IIT’s researchers.  

Assuming that the iRonCub3 or some future version of it becomes operational as a fully-functional flying robot, its EMS possibilities are astounding. A case in point: “The iRonCub3 could enhance rescue missions by providing quick access to areas that ground responders cannot easily reach, such as collapsed buildings or hazardous environments,” Pucci told EMS world. “Its aerial capabilities will allow it to perform aerial inspections and assessments, and its future manipulation abilities will enable it to clear obstacles or open doors. We also foresee using our avatar system, which allows the robot to be remotely controlled by an operator. Our system can control the robot from nearly 10,000 km away, the distance between Genoa and Tokyo. This technology would allow responders to control the iRonCub3 remotely, avoiding dangerous exposure and making it ideal for EMS in high-risk scenarios like radioactive environments or flooded areas.” 

Of course, when your research unit has already built a jet-powered flying robot, it makes sense to envision as wide a range of missions for it as possible. When it comes to iRonCub3, “ it will perform tasks like outdoor inspections, navigating between buildings, and potentially manipulating objects, although we are still in the process of integrating these capabilities,” said Pucci. “The mechanical design and trajectory planning rely on advanced algorithms, which have been validated in simulations and are soon to be tested on the real robot. Concerning the current functionalities and project status, we prefer not to provide details now. We are working on hovering and landing.” 

To be precise, the IIT is making steady progress toward making iRonCub3 a practical reality. Pucci’s research unit has already successfully tested the robot in simulations and initial take-off experiments. The trajectory planning algorithm, developed with Python software using a multiple-shooting approach, has been validated in simulation, and her team is now preparing for more extensive real-world testing. “We are also conducting wind tunnel tests at the Politecnico di Milano to validate our computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, a first for humanoid robots,” Pucci said. “While challenges remain in integrating iRonCub3 into practical rescue scenarios, we are making rapid progress. However, there is still a significant amount of work ahead.” 

Admittedly, having a flying jet-powered robot in an EMS station house would be pretty cool! But does Danelie Pucci really believe that robots could play a big role in EMS? “Absolutely,” he replied. “Robots like iRonCub3 will play a crucial role in EMS by enhancing the speed and safety of response efforts. They will be capable of entering hazardous environments, conducting initial assessments, and assisting in rescue operations without endangering human responders. In the future, these robots could also carry medical supplies, provide real-time data to emergency personnel, and potentially perform basic interventions through their operators. The ability to combine walking, flying, and manipulation opens up new possibilities for emergency situations. As technology advances, robotics will increasingly become a vital component of EMS strategies.”