A robot bird with an inbuilt drone mimics the movement of real creatures and could transform surveillance, according to the developers.

Researchers at Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne, a public research university in Lausanne, Switzerland, have built the drone named RAVEN (Robotic Avian-inspired Vehicle for Multiple Environments). They said it was inspired by birds.

The drone is said to have the capability to walk, hop, and jump into flight. Footage shows the device in action.

Developers said the unmanned aerial vehicle replicates the capabilities of perching birds like ravens and crows, allowing it to autonomously take off in environments previously inaccessible to traditional winged drones.

They said: 'RAVEN's birdlike legs enable it to transition seamlessly from land to air without the need for a runway, making it more versatile for tasks such as disaster relief or deliveries in confined spaces.'

Dario Floreano's Laboratory of Intelligent Systems (LIS) incorporated lightweight, multifunctional avian-inspired limbs and feet into the machine, which weighs just 0.62 kg (approximately 1.36 lbs).

The mechanism uses a combination of springs and motors to replicate the tendons and muscles of birds, enabling it to walk, hop, and jump.

Researchers found that jumping into flight was the most energy-efficient method of take-off, combining kinetic and potential energy.

The team is reportedly refining the design to further improve RAVEN's landing and mobility across different environments.

Scientists working on this project have high hopes that the drone's unique capabilities will advance drone technology, providing assistance in disaster relief and can have access to difficult terrain.