Surprisingly simple scheme for self-assembing robots-Meg Mickelsen

Despite the hellish landscape depicted in movies like the Matrix, it was long thought impossible to design modular self-reconfiguring robots.  Many labored over the idea, hoping to be able to create a robotic system that can recover and adapt to new situation.  The code has finally been cracked, but in an insanely obvious way.  Daniela Rus and Kyle Gilpin have created small cubes, M blocks, with no external moving parts, that can self assemble, based on a design by John Romanishin.  These M blocks have a small flywheel inside them and magnets at each corner.  Thus, they can attach to any side of the each other and form random shapes.  However, they can be programed to create certain shapes.  These robots can leap, climb, roll and assemble themselves in anyway possible.  With this diversity, comes endless possibilities.  These types of cubes could repair a bridge, assemble into scaffolding, form heavy machinery, or any other object the mind can imagine.  Furthermore, they can be programmed to create patterns and thus form and reform into different useful parts.  I discovered this wonder at www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/10/131004105235.htm.  I find this information exciting because the possibilities to use this technology are practically endless.  It is also a simple technology, easily understood by anyone, that only involves some wonderfully creative thinking.  I always enjoy the idea that the human race keeps advancing and that we can still surprise ourselves through innovation.