Researchers from the Swiss university EPFL, led by Won Dong Shin, have developed a unique robot called Raven. Externally resembling a giant bird, it is capable of flying using two semi-fixed wings and a propeller, mimicking the behaviors of real birds.
Raven uses multi-jointed limbs that mimic the structure of a raven’s legs. Thanks to this design, the robot can not only walk but also overcome obstacles, jump over cliffs, and climb elevations, replicating the movements typical of real birds.
Like a real raven, the robot can use a jump before flight. Tests showed that this method significantly saves energy compared to taking off without a jump. 
The developers note that the robotic legs open new possibilities for fixed-wing flying machines, enabling autonomous take-offs and multimodal movements even on challenging terrains.
The Future of Flying Robots: Raven Paves the Way for Advanced Aerial and Terrain-Adaptive Machines
This breakthrough has potential applications not only for robotics but also for flight technologies. The ability to mimic natural movements allows Raven to open new possibilities for flying machines with fixed wings, enabling autonomous take-offs and multimodal movements on even the most challenging terrains. This includes the possibility of using such robots in search and rescue missions, where they could fly and navigate through difficult landscapes like mountains or forests.
The development of Raven also represents an important milestone in the field of aerial robotics, as it shows the potential for machines that can adapt to different environments through complex and efficient movements. Unlike traditional drones that rely solely on propellers or fixed wings, Raven’s ability to combine walking and flying allows it to perform more sophisticated tasks, such as navigating narrow spaces or handling uneven surfaces, without relying on a predetermined flight path.
Flying robots like Raven are part of an emerging trend in robotics, where machines are designed not just to perform isolated tasks, but to interact with their environment in a more dynamic and adaptive way. These robots have applications in fields ranging from environmental monitoring to delivery systems, where they could access places that are difficult for traditional vehicles or drones to reach.
