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Researchers Explore How to Build Shapeshifting, T-1000-Style Robots
In a groundbreaking study, a team of researchers has made significant progress in developing small robots that can work together as a collective entity, capable of changing shape and even shifting between solid and “fluid-like” states. This innovation is reminiscent of the T-1000 robotic assassin from “Terminator 2,” which was a liquid-metal endoskeleton that could change its shape at will.
The research team, led by Matthew Devlin of UC Santa Barbara, has published their findings in Science, highlighting the potential of “cohesive collectives of robotic units that can arrange into virtually any form with any physical properties.” This concept has long fascinated both scientists and science fiction enthusiasts alike.
According to Otger Campàs, a professor at Max Planck Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, the team drew inspiration from the intricate structures found in embryos. By mimicking these biological phenomena, researchers aimed to design robots that could achieve similar capabilities. The created robots feature motorized gears, magnets for attachment, and photodetectors capable of receiving instructions from a flashlight with a polarization filter.
While the current prototype’s size, around 5 centimeters in diameter, is still considerable, the team’s ultimate goal is to miniaturize these robots to just 1 or 2 centimeters, potentially even smaller. This ambition underscores the significant technical hurdles that must be overcome before such robots can become a reality.
Despite the challenges ahead, this breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize various fields, including manufacturing, medicine, and possibly even military applications. The implications of having robots with shape-shifting abilities are vast, and it will be exciting to follow future developments in this area.
