Granted, that image above is from a certain 1970’s science fiction moment burned in the minds of those of us old enough to remember, and actually has nothing to do with this post. But this does. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon are working to eventually create microscopic robots that can swarm together allowing them to change shape into almost any form by clinging together. They are testing these strategies on groups of larger, pocket-sized robots that allow rapid prototyping of the simulations and control approach enabling the researchers to quickly refine and evolve the swarming abilities of the robots. One set of robots uses electromagnetic forces to move and connect themselves in patterns, to communicate, and to share power. Check out this video of the test robots in action:
Fascinating, and given our propensity for making science fiction become reality I imagine that this is a robotics technology we will see at some time in the next couple of decades.
This story, via Danger Room, immediately made me think of this:
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