Robots are becoming a big part of modern technology. Especially when we have people like Elon Musk, introduce fully autonomous robots. However, in most cases, these robots can be pretty wasteful as they’re built in their “final form”. They won’t grow or sustain themselves, which will have a negative impact on the world. However, scientists at Columbia University have created cannibalistic robots that can “consume” others to grow or repair themselves.
Cannibalistic Robots consume each other to adapt to their environment
Researchers at Columbia University have introduced a new term in robotic science: Robot Metabolism. They introduced this term as they have invented new robots that can grow by consuming other robots or parts from other robots. These robots are made from Truss links, which can change in length. The links connect to each other by a magnetic tip. To be called “Self-sustaining” robots, there were two rules. Robots could only grow on their own or with assistance from robots made from the same components. The second rule was that the only external provision to this “growing”-process was energy and materials
In one of the tests, the cannibalistic got extra parts, which they used to increase their mobility and downhill speed. One managed to make a “crutch” and gave itself increased stability. At the same time, another robot constructed itself a complex three-dimensional structure that it then used as legs.
Why Would We Need Self-Sustaining Robots?
While it may seem like a sustainable way to keep robots alive, it also has more potential. Since these robots don’t require human intervention and can maintain and repair themselves, they’re ideal for space exploration. For example, if we’re able to have self-maintaining robots on other planets. This way, we can do more research on potential life forms or study potential livable planets for humans.
Featured image credit: Yahoo
