The authors present a critical review on flying motion and echolocation in robotics, directly derived from research on biology and flight mechanics of bats, aimed at designing and prototyping a new generation of robotic technologies. To achieve this goal, the paper starts with an in-depth review on real bats, studying and proposing models derived from the analysis of the aerodynamics of bat wings combined together with the investigation of the bat echolocation system. These models will form the basis for the implementation of the conceptual design of the proposed robotic platform, consisting of a new complete bat body, light and smart body structures, provided with a set of sensors and actuated joints, displaying echolocation, sensing and coordination capabilities. © 2014 Springer International Publishing.