When we think of robots, we generally think of industrial robots in factories, putting hard labor to complete tasks that humans cannot. But robots are not just science fiction movies anymore. The humanoid robot Sophia is considered in such high regard that Saudi Arabia provided citizenship to her. Robots that are integrated with technologies like artificial intelligence, cybernetics, cognitive development, and neuroscience can perform multiple tasks at the same time, like plan, think, work, analyze, walk, and now, apparently fly. Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology have recently been exploring the possibilities of creating a humanoid robot that can fly.

Science fiction is full of robotic systems that can fly. Whether they're humanoid robots or robotic exoskeletons, all it seems to take to turn a walking robot into a flying robot is some thrusters attached to the hands and feet, and just like Iron Man, off you go. The reason that science fiction is full of this kind of thing is because it's tremendously fun to think about this kind of thing, and you can imagine all kinds of compelling applications for it, even beyond the obligatory punching of aliens and more generalized anti-antagonist-ing. In fact, some of these applications could be useful outside of science fiction, and researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology (IIT) are working on making it a reality, by developing a system that can control an iCub humanoid robot with four jet engines attached to it. Getting an iCub to hover and fly by installing jet engines on its hands and feet sounds a bit far-fetched.