Al Sharqiya

New York - ALsharqiya, July 24: A team of scientists from Columbia University in New York has developed innovative robots that can grow and recover by consuming parts from other robots. This development is an important step toward creating autonomous machines, where robots can maintain themselves and utilize the resources around them. "True autonomy is not just about robots thinking, but also about their ability to sustain themselves physically," explained Philip Martin Wider, lead researcher on the study from Columbia University's School of Engineering and the University of Washington. These robots function like living organisms that draw energy from their environment. They grow and adapt to their surroundings by consuming materials they obtain from other robots, allowing them to continually adapt and repair themselves. This concept is called "robotic metabolism," a process that allows robots to consume and reuse parts from other robots. The team tested this model by designing a magnetic robotic rod called Truss Link, which can expand, contract, and attach to other robotic modules. These robots can improve their performance automatically by adding new parts or discarding worn-out ones. One example demonstrated was a tetrahedral robot using a new Truss Link to improve its speed by more than 50%. The video, published by Columbia University's School of Engineering, noted: "Robots provide a digital interface to the physical world and give artificial intelligence real legs." The scientists continued: "Through adaptable robotic bodies, future AI could help explore the depths of the oceans, save lives during natural disasters, contribute to the colonization of new planets, and support humans in everyday life." They added: "Robot metabolism paves the way for the emergence of a new kind of machine that not only learns but also grows."