New York University inventor Leif Ristroph has created a novel flying mechanism – a flying jellyfish. The machine, which is able to hover stably in the air, solves problems faced by other flying robots.

Published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, the authors say that current robots that mimic the wing motions of insects back and forth are have an intrinsic instability in body orientation, and to keep them upright, a sensory motor system is required. Normal hovering robots also tend to flip over if uncontrolled, they said.

Footage released by the authors shows the jellyfish-like flying machine hovering in the air.

Written by Hannha Osborne