A team of researchers at Columbia University has made a groundbreaking discovery in robotics, presenting a new paradigm where shapeshifting modular robots can consume one another to grow and heal. This process, dubbed “robot metabolism,” enables the system to integrate its components on the fly and adapt to changing environments.
The researchers designed their experiment using a Truss Link, a modular robot that can contort into different shapes thanks to magnetic joins. The results show that by consuming other robots, the system can increase its mass, swap damaged components for new ones, and even “heal” itself. This technology has potential applications in disaster recovery and space exploration.
Lead researcher Philippe Martin Wyder notes that true autonomy requires not only intelligence but also physical self-sufficiency. By mimicking biological processes, these robots can create new structures or adapt their designs to suit different tasks. The implications are significant, suggesting a future where AI can build physical structures alongside digital ones.
Source: https://www.automate.org/robotics/industry-insights/these-shapeshifting-modular-robots-consume-one-other-to-grow-and-heal