Dianele Pucci: The Hardest Part isn’t Flight, it’s Teaching a Machine To Know it’s Alive in Midair

Joshua Olaiya

Founder and Host

Featuring

Dr. Daniele Pucci

Director of Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence, IIT

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Episode Description

In theory, future flying robots might not just mimic human motion, they could outperform us by fusing robotics with jet propulsion and autonomous control. Few realize this: the hardware evolution of humanoid flight is quietly rewriting what's possible in engineering and aerospace. iRonCub3 is proof. But what exactly is this robot, and why does it matter to the future of flight, rescue, and defense? Whether you're a curious learner, an engineer, or someone obsessed with future tech, this episode will blow your mind.

About Our Guest

Dr. Daniele Pucci

Director of Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence, IIT

Dr. Daniele Pucci, the visionary behind iRonCub3 and head of the Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence lab at the Italian Institute of Technology. He holds a PhD in nonlinear control and flight dynamics from INRIA in France and was named an MIT Innovator Under 35 for pioneering the world’s first jet-powered humanoid robot. With a background in control engineering from Sapienza University, Daniele has led EU projects blending AI, robotics, and aerospace to build machines that move like humans, and now, fly like them. His work spans everything from whole-body control and biomechanics to neural flight modeling using CFD and AI. Today, he’s pushing robotics to new heights, quite literally, by fusing jet propulsion with intelligent, human-like machines.

In This Episode

In this episode of The Joshua Olaiya Show, we take a deep dive into the iRonCub3 , the world’s first humanoid robot capable of flying using mini jet engines. We’ll cover: How to teach a robot to understand where it is in the air, and not lose control? Why it is harder to make a robot fly than it is to make a drone fly? What makes a robot “smart” enough to correct itself mid-flight, without a human remote? f a robot can really “feel” when it’s tipping over in the air—and how does it fix itself?

About The Host

Joshua Olaiya

Founder and Host

Joshua Olaiya, the Founder, and Host at JOS Podcast, is a young self-taught robotics engineer with seven years of experience. He began coding at 13 with Scratch, Python, and C++, developed his first game and mobile app at 15, and crafted a hand-gesture robot prototype for the disabled at 17. His achievements, including recognition from Tesla, BBC, Deutsche Welle, T-Motor, Silverbird TV, Anybotics, Agility Robotics and notable social media influencers, place him among the top 200 influencers globally, alongside figures like Bill Gates and other top global leaders. Additionally, he once held the 25th rank in robotics worldwide by Favikon. Joshua's entrepreneurial spirit earned him an entrepreneur programme from the University of Oxford, where he also holds a diploma in electrical and electronic engineering from the U.K, complemented by City and Guild certification.

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Episode Description

About Our Guest

Dr. Daniele Pucci

Director of Artificial and Mechanical Intelligence, IIT

In This Episode

About The Host

Joshua Olaiya

Founder and Host

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Dianele Pucci: The Hardest Part isn’t Flight, it’s Teaching a Machine To Know it’s Alive in Midair

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Dianele Pucci: The Hardest Part isn’t Flight, it’s Teaching a Machine To Know it’s Alive in Midair

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