Just like a real raven, the robot is also capable of jumping into takeoff when starting a flight. Tests showed that boosting takeoff speed in this manner was considerably more energy-efficient than ...

A robot that can jump into flight like a bird could eliminate the need for runways for small fixed-winged drones. Birds use the powerful explosive force generated by their legs to leap into the air ...

Scientists have built a bird-inspired robot with legs that can walk on the ground, hop over obstacles and jump into flight, an advance that may lead to the development of drones for complex terrains.