*iRonCub3’s baby face is a relic of the 2004 iCub platform, which was originally developed at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT). 
 

When engineers watch too many Iron Man movies, projects like IronCub come to light. This is not another drone, helplessly buzzing its propellers. This is a humanoid robot equipped with real jet engines on its limbs, which not only flies, but tries to do it with grace worthy of the best Marvel comics. However, so far his grace is more like a novice figure skater at the rink after ten glasses of mulled wine.

What kind of creation is this and why is it trying to kill gravity?

IronCub is a bold engineering experiment that calls into question all the familiar canons of robotics. Instead of crawling, walking, or riding, this robot decided that its element was air. His "arms" and "legs" are equipped with compact but powerful jet engines that create enough thrust to lift the metal body into the air and — most difficult of all — hold it in a stable position.

"The main task is not just to take off, but to ensure stable flight and controlled movement," the developers explain. "We are actually teaching the robot to balance in three—dimensional space, which is several orders of magnitude more difficult than keeping its balance on the ground."

Imagine that you are trying to juggle four balls while standing on one foot on a swinging board, and you are also being spun up. This is approximately the task that the IronCub control system solves every millisecond of its flight.

Why is this necessary at all? The use of a flying human robot

This question is in the air more often than IronCub itself. Why create such a complex and energy-intensive robot if there are drones?

Work at height. Imagine installing equipment on cellular communication masts or high-rise buildings. Instead of risking the life of a human climber, this job can be done by a flying humanoid robot that can not only hover, but also lean on the structure using its manipulators.

Rescue operations. In the rubble after earthquakes, where drones find it difficult to maneuver and people can't get through, the IronCub could fly between the rubble, open doors and search for survivors.

Logistics at complex facilities. Cargo transportation on ships, oil platforms or in industrial workshops where there are no flat floors for wheeled robots.

"We see the potential for the robot to work where the dexterity of the manipulators and the mobility of the aircraft are needed at the same time," the creators share.

What challenges does physics pose?

Creating such a robot is a battle with fundamental laws.

Energy consumption. Jet engines are a huge energy expenditure. So far, there is no talk of long-term flights. These are rather short but powerful jerks.

Management. Air stabilization with four independent engines is a headache for any algorithm. The slightest mistake — and the robot turns into an uncontrollable projectile.

Weight. Every gram counts. Engineers have to look for super-light but durable materials and miniaturize all systems, from batteries to computing modules.

Safety. Rotating turbines and a jet stream make the robot dangerous to others. He will be able to work next to people only if there are ultra-reliable protection systems.

Flying cadres for the ecosystem of the future

When (and if) such complex universal machines as the IronCub leave the prototype stage, the question of their integration into the economy will arise. Who will they belong to? Who will allocate their working hours? How will their work be evaluated?

New tools will be needed to manage such highly specialized "talents." The platform jobtorob.com The company, which positions itself as the world's first ecosystem for hiring robots, could become an ideal intermediary between owners of unique machines and customers in need of their unique services. For example, a construction company needs a robot for a week to install structures at height. Instead of buying an expensive device, they could use jobtorob.com to "hire" IronCub for a specific project, providing its owner with income, and solving the problem for himself without capital costs.

What is the result? It's not perfect yet, but it's already flying.

IronCub today is more of a technology demonstrator than a ready—to-use product. He is clumsy, voracious, and requires improvement. But he's paving the way. He shows that the future of robotics may not be on the ground, but in the air, and that robots do not have to be highly specialized tools.

It challenges not only gravity, but also our imagination, forcing us to think about what tasks the next generation of machines will be able to perform. And perhaps in a few years we will look at familiar drones as ancient dinosaurs, remembering that the real era of flying robots began with the clumsy but brave attempts of the iron man from the laboratory to get off the floor and take the first step into the sky. And his "workbook" will be stored in the most progressive digital HR agency.