mblocks

"Modular self-reconfigurable robotics" or sometimes "programmable matter" refers to the sub-field of robotics that involves swarms of interacting modular robots. Researchers theorize that in the future these robots will be able to morph into different objects on demand, much like the T-1000 liquid-metal in the movie Terminator. While thankfully nothing even remotely approaching the T-1000 has been designed yet, work is progressing, although there are many significant unsolved research challenges. The ability to reconfigure will not only allow for more efficient reuse robotic modules - it will also open up amazing possibilities that are just now being imagined. One possible approach is to make mechanical systems much more like biology - where they can reshape themselves on demand and grow and change in a similar manner to living matter. If this work seems interesting - many academic papers describing progress in this field can be found online - a good place to start is with the following paper (Can be found online) Modular Self Reconfigurable Robotic Systems: Challenges and Opportunities for the Future Yim, Rus, Moll, Lipson, et. al.