Researchers at Columbia University developed a modular robot system called “Truss Link” that can merge with other robots to self-assemble larger, more functional machines. Each rod-shaped unit can crawl, connect magnetically, and build structures like tetrahedrons. These bots demonstrated adaptive behavior by discarding low-battery parts, forming walking aids, and even helping other bots complete transformations. Though teleoperated in current tests, simulations show potential for self-assembly.

A paper in Communications Engineering introduces a discrete modular material-robot system that is capable of serial, recursive (making more robots), and hierarchical (making larger robots) assembly. Read the paper: https://go.nature.com/3OvE4dT | Nature Portfolio