Self-replicating robot created

1 June 2005 News

Machines that make copies of themselves in minutes have been created by scientists at the Cornell University. The 'proof of concept' machine shows that robots in future, could be developed that replicate, or at least repair themselves, while working in space or in hazardous environments.

The scientists created a modular building block called a 'molecube' - a mechanised cube containing gears, magnets and electronics. Each molecube has an identical set of instructions in its microcontroller, which controls electromagnets on the cube's surface, which it uses to link to other molecubes. The robots are built entirely from the molecube subsystems.

To begin replication, the stack of cubes bends over and sets its top cube on the table. Then it bends to one side to pick up a new cube and deposit it on top of the first. By repeating this, one robot made up of a stack of cubes can create another just like itself. Since one robot cannot reach across another of the same height, the robot being built then assists in completing its own construction.

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