Real-Life 'Transformer:' M4 Robot Can Crawl, Roll, Fly

The Multi-Modal Mobility Morphobot, or M4, is a ground-breaking robotic system that takes cues from nature to achieve fantastic flexibility and versatility.

According to new research published in Nature Communications, this creative robot combines movement patterns from various animals, such as sea lions, meerkats, and chukar birds, into a single robotic design.

The M4's articulated body, mostly made of carbon fiber and 3D-printed pieces, allows it to change form as necessary dynamically. The M4's four quadcopter-style rotors, which act as both wheels and propellers, let it do various tasks with great functionality and agility.

Some of these features include wheel locomotion, flying, crouching, item manipulation, quadrupedal movement, thruster-assisted mobility over steep slopes, and falling over substantial barriers.

No Terrain is Tough Enough

The M4's design provides unmatched adaptability for navigating various terrains on the ground and in the air. This robotic system exhibits outstanding flexibility and fluid movement as it switches limbs between wheels, propellers, legs, and hands.

The M4 has four legs with two joints, weighs around 13 pounds, and is about 27.5 inches wide by 13.8 inches tall. Its ducted fans can switch between acting as a leg, a propeller thruster, or a wheel, per Global Village Space.

The M4 can navigate rugged terrain, climb steep slopes, get around significant obstacles by tumbling, fly to higher levels, and even crawl through low-ceiling pathways, according to Alireza Ramezani, an assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering at Northeastern University and the study's author.

Future M4 Use

The "Bat Bot," a prior invention by Ramezani known for his bio-inspired designs, might be replaced by the M4 as NASA moves toward a more multi-modal approach to space research, per ABC News.

The development of the M4 robot was funded by the National Science Foundation and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, underscoring its potential use in space missions. Ramezani said that the M4's combination of ground and airborne mobility, influenced by NASA's Mars rovers, would revolutionize space research. He thinks this adaptable robotic technology could be essential to the following space exploration projects.

The M4 also has enormous potential for use in search and rescue operations after natural catastrophes like earthquakes and floods. Its flexibility enables it to handle the many difficulties presented by changing landscapes in the wake of such occurrences.

The adaptability of the robot may be used to meet the mobility needs essential for effective search and rescue operations, which is a vital help in reducing the effects of catastrophes.