Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you.
The viral “robotic dragon” is real—but it is not a flying mechanical animal or a commercial drone. DRAGON is an experimental University of Tokyo aerial robot made from rotor-powered links joined by controllable joints. Those joints let it reconfigure in midair, including into narrower, snake-like arrangements intended to pass through confined openings.
The original video story was published by Scroll on February 21, 2019. The underlying work is documented in the University of Tokyo’s 2018 paper, “Design, Modeling, and Control of an Aerial Robot DRAGON”.
What the video shows
Footage shows a laboratory prototype flying while its linked sections change relative position. The demonstrated machine used four modules. Reported configurations included straight, zigzag, square-like and snake-like forms; the design was described as scalable to as many as 12 modules.
“Shapeshifting” is a media-friendly shorthand. Nothing melts, folds like fabric or reassembles by itself. Powered joints move rigid sections relative to one another while the rotor units keep the structure airborne. The machine is more accurately described as a multilinked, articulated multirotor.
#1 Best Overall
- Remote Control and Hand Gesture Control:This gesture sensing robot not only can be controlled by infrared controller, but also can turn left ,turn right, slide backward, and slide forward according to how your hand gesture commands; Multi function includes auto display and obstacles avoidance as well;The toy robot’s eyes light up with bright blue illuminating LED when it moves;
- Intelligent Programming: This smart robot toy can demonstrating a set of 50 actions inputted by the user.If you switch programming function,this Interactive robot will playback using its moves record feature to repeat the movement one by one as you created like turn left+turn right+walk forward+walk backward+patrol+dance+and many others action mode you selected;
- Premium Material:This Remote Control Robot is made of non-toxic ABS plastic, with flexible multi-joint in shoulder,elbows and thumbs ,and the bottom skating wheels are pretty sturdy to well carry out a various combination of moves;This playful robot really entertain your kids and bring you endless joys;
- Convenient Rechargeable Robot Toy:this RC robot is powered by built-in batteries.Directly connect to USB charging interface like your power bank,plug,computers.Rechargeable way saves your money for batteries and you only recharge the robot about 2 hours, and its playtime is about 60 minutes;
- Ideal Birthday Xmas Gift & Kids Intimate Companion : The infrared control Robot is versatile and vivid can dance,sing,walk,patrol,even can speak with a charming accent;Don’t scratch your head to search gifts but directly pick this intelligent robot for your kids;It is an amazing gift kids will be thrilled with and this robot will entertain you so much.
What DRAGON means
The project name expands to “Dual-rotor embedded multilink Robot with the Ability of multi-Degree-of-freedom aerial transformation.” In practical terms:
- Dual-rotor embedded: propulsion units are integrated into the links rather than mounted on one rigid quadcopter frame.
- Multilink: the flying body consists of connected segments.
- Aerial transformation: joints change the robot’s geometry while it is airborne.
- Multi-degree-of-freedom: several joint motions allow more than a simple tilt or attitude change.
Why make a drone that changes shape?
A conventional multirotor has a mostly fixed footprint. Tilting or accelerating may help it approach an obstacle, but those maneuvers need room and do not make the rigid frame physically narrower. DRAGON can alter its geometry instead.
A related IROS 2018 study, “Flight Motion of Passing Through Small Opening by DRAGON,” describes a controlled, near-hovering passage through a relatively small opening. The robot changes form slowly rather than relying solely on an aggressive maneuver by a fixed airframe. That is the central engineering point: the aircraft itself becomes adaptable to the available space.
Rank #2
- [Telescope Suction Cup Robot Toy] The coolest Telescope Suction Cup Robot Toy of 2026, which combines the pop tube into limbs and uses suction cups instead of palms and soles of feet. Allow toddlers to freely explore their designs, improve their fine motor skills, or simply calm down while airplane traveling
- [Autism Sensory Toys for Classroom] Pop, wrinkle, pull, stretch! The continuous popping sound will excite toddlers. The bottom suction cup can be connected to smooth surfaces such as mirrors, windows, and tiles. Children can enjoy their playtime in classroom, home, restaurant, airplane and road trip.
- [Road Trip Travel Activities Essentials] The telescopic suction cup robot toy can pop, stretch, twist, and wrap, helping to cultivate children's fine motor skills and creative thinking. Helping children relieve stress and calm down during the plane/car journey and restaurant, especially suitable for ADHD and autism
- [2026 Small Cool Toy Set] Equipped with 4 different colors, made of high-quality ABS and lead-free plastic, it has sufficient toughness and durability to withstand long-term play, fully meeting the safety standards of American children's toys
- [Easter Basket Stuffer For Kids] Telescopic suction cup toys can effectively help focus and promote sensory development. This is an fun and cool Easter Basket Essentials for kids、toddlers and grandkid. Perfect as a gift for birthdays, Valentine's Day Classroom, Easter, Christmas, Thanksgiving, or Halloween
Possible uses are research directions rather than established products. An articulated flyer could eventually assist with industrial inspection, indoor reconnaissance, disaster-site sensing, aerial manipulation or reaching around obstacles. The 2019 coverage also discussed a future “flying arm” and a version able to fly and walk; those were prospective goals, not capabilities demonstrated by the four-module video.
The difficult part is keeping it stable
Changing shape in flight changes the robot’s mass distribution, moments of inertia and the direction and location of thrust. A controller must coordinate the rotors and joints while the body is continuously deforming. More links can provide more possible shapes, but they also add weight, power demand, moving parts and failure modes.
| Potential benefit | Engineering cost or limitation |
|---|---|
| Narrower effective body for openings | Long articulated sections can still hit walls, ceilings or the opening edge |
| Multiple propulsion units and control options | More motors, joints, batteries and electronics add mass and reduce endurance |
| Different configurations for different tasks | Planning and stabilization become harder as geometry changes |
| Potential whole-body manipulation | A prototype optimized for flight may have little payload capacity |
| Operation in cluttered indoor spaces | The laboratory demonstration does not establish performance in wind, rain, dust or smoke |
What the demonstration proves—and what it does not
The defensible conclusions are that the researchers built a multilink aerial robot, controlled its flight, changed its configuration in the air and demonstrated a constrained-opening maneuver. The video is evidence of a research prototype in a controlled setting, not a complete performance specification.
Rank #3
- Remote Control and Hand Gesture Control:This gesture sensing robot not only can be controlled by infrared controller, but also can turn left ,turn right, slide backward, and slide forward according to how your hand gesture commands; Multi function includes auto display and obstacles avoidance as well;The toy robot’s eyes light up with bright blue illuminating LED when it moves;
- Intelligent Programming: This smart robot toy can demonstrating a set of 50 actions inputted by the user.If you switch programming function,this Interactive robot will playback using its moves record feature to repeat the movement one by one as you created like turn left+turn right+walk forward+walk backward+patrol+dance+and many others action mode you selected;
- Premium Material:This Remote Control Robot is made of non-toxic ABS plastic, with flexible multi-joint in shoulder,elbows and thumbs ,and the bottom skating wheels are pretty sturdy to well carry out a various combination of moves;This playful robot really entertain your kids and bring you endless joys;
- Convenient Rechargeable Robot Toy:this RC robot is powered by built-in batteries.Directly connect to USB charging interface like your power bank,plug,computers.Rechargeable way saves your money for batteries and you only recharge the robot about 2 hours, and its playtime is about 60 minutes;
- Ideal Birthday Xmas Gift & Kids Intimate Companion : The infrared control Robot is versatile and vivid can dance,sing,walk,patrol,even can speak.Each robot measures 5.9 x 3.3 x 10.6 inch.
It does not show that DRAGON can navigate any arbitrary space, operate without supervision, carry useful rescue payloads or work safely around people. The available 2019 reporting does not justify calling it a fully autonomous machine in all environments. “Up to 12 modules” describes a reported design capacity, not proof that a 12-module vehicle completed the same flight demonstration.
Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
Nor was this a consumer product announcement. There is no basis in the cited material for claims of commercial availability, routine firefighting or building-inspection deployment, weather tolerance, endurance or a particular payload.
How the research developed after the viral video
The 2018–2019 work established the transformable, multilink flight concept and the small-opening demonstration. The University of Tokyo’s DRAGON Lab publication list shows a continuing program involving online motion planning, singularity-free aerial deformation, force-vectoring mechanisms and aerial manipulation.
Rank #4
- Multifunctional Robot: LED eyes can light up once you turn on the robot, you can also make it blink or closed by the controller. Smart Voice - turn on the robot it will start talking, he can also sing different songs which can be switched by remote; the track of the tank allows the robot to move forward backward left, and right flexibly. Under demo mode, it will begin 360-degree spins, dancing with flexible arms and heads.
- Fantastic Unique Appearance: This cute and funny robot is designed in 3 parts. The upper part is a cute robot with a pair of LED eyes and the head and arms are flexible. The bottom part is designed as a continuous track of a tank, so cool! Songs singing will absorb your baby. Combining a cute appearance, beautiful big eyes, flexible limbs, and a smart voice function, your baby will love this toy robot.
- Easy to Operate: Equipped with tracks of tanks, 6 wheels, and a 2.4GHz remote controller, the RC robot can move and dance under the control of the child, ideal for the child's entry-level remote-control toys. One-click demonstration of automatic dancing will provide hours of fun to children. 2.4G Hz no interference controller makes several robots can run at the same time.
- Entertaining and Educational: For children who have just formed a cognition of the world, this easy-to-operate robot can help them begin to exercise their operational skills and imagination. The joyful singing will greatly stimulate the children's language communication potential, and the cute shapes will bring happiness to children and promote physical and mentally healthy. Excellent girls boys toys age 4-5.
- Ultimate Robot Toys Ideas: Are you looking for an ideal and exciting present for a birthday, Christmas, or festival? Choose this, and children will love it!! It is as entertaining as it is educational, a better choice than a robot dog. We adopt exqRobot length, width and height: L*W*H=4.92*3.34*4.72 inchuisite packaging for this robot, what you get in the box: 1 remote-controlled robot, 1 remote control, 1 Type C charge cable, 1 screwdriver, 1 user manual, and batteries for the controller.
By 2023, the lab listed “Versatile articulated aerial robot DRAGON: Aerial manipulation and grasping by vectorable thrust control,” indicating a move toward using the articulated vehicle as a manipulator as well as a flying platform. These later results should not be retroactively attributed to the exact four-module prototype in the 2019 article; they show how the research direction evolved.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Bottom line
DRAGON is a genuine University of Tokyo robotics prototype whose linked rotor modules can change configuration during flight. Its significance is not that scientists built a mythical flying dragon, but that they challenged the assumption that an aircraft must have a fixed body shape. The practical promise is controlled flight through constrained spaces and, eventually, aerial manipulation—not a ready-to-buy, all-purpose shapeshifting drone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is DRAGON an autonomous robot dragon?
It is an articulated aerial-robot research prototype. The cited demonstrations show controlled in-flight transformation and passage through a small opening, but do not establish fully autonomous operation in arbitrary environments.
Best Value
- EXPERIENCE THE CLASSIC CONVERSION PLAY OF TRANSFORMERS TOYS: Transformers toys that change from robot to vehicle have captivated kids for generations.
- 2 TOYS IN 1: This toy robot changes into the signature red and blue Optimus Prime toy truck in 6 simple steps. Easy conversion for kids 6 years old and up.
- FAVORITE TRANSFORMERS CHARACTER: Transformers follows the story of the heroic Autobots, who fight to protect all life, and the evil Decepticons, who seek to conquer the universe. This timeless 11-inch Cyber Commander Series figure depicts Optimus Prime, legendary leader of the Autobots--essential when starting a Transformers toy collection.
- IMAGINE EXCITING BATTLES: Collect other 11-inch Cyber Commander Series Transformers figures so kids can imagine their own Autobot vs. Decepticon battles (Each sold separately. Subject to availability).
- MAKES A GREAT GIFT: This classic Optimus Prime action figure makes the perfect birthday or holiday gift.
How many modules did the demonstrated robot have?
The prototype shown in the 2019 coverage used four modules. The report described a design that could support up to 12, which is not the same as demonstrating a 12-module flight.
Can DRAGON really walk or rescue people?
No such capability is established for the robot shown in the video. Walking and a flying-arm or rescue role were discussed as future research possibilities.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →
