Engineers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have developed a transformer-like drone that can easily switch from aerial to ground driving mode in midair.

Dubbed ATMO (aerially transforming morphobot), the innovative drone developed by Mory Gharib and Ioannis Mandralis of Caltech is capable of something that the aerospace industry has been struggling to deal with for probably more than 50 years – midair transformation. Using a single motor to move a central joint that alters the orientation of its four thrusters, ATMO can seamlessly transition from a flying drone to a Rover-like vehicle before it touches the ground. This midair transformation is critical because rough and unpredictable terrain can cause the transformation system to malfunction. Interestingly, the round shrouds that protect the drone’s four thrusters also act as wheels when the gadget is in drive mode.

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