- Source: Molecubes
Molecubes are a collection of modular robots created by Hod Lipson and Victor Zykov from Cornell University. A molecube is made of two rotatable halves, one with the microprocessor which represents the intelligence behind the unit, and the other with a motor for rotating the joint. A group of the cubes can be connected into a variety of shapes.
A robot constructed entirely of molecubes would be able to repair itself using extra cubes, and to create a copy of itself using the same number of cubes.
Physical self-reproduction of both a three- and a four-module robot was demonstrated.
Subsequent open-source development, with support from Microsoft Research and Festo
reduced size and weight of the molecubes.
Additional molecube types were produced including: hinges, grippers, batteries, wheels, cameras and more.
See also
Self-reconfiguring modular robot
References
External links
Youtube video: Self-replicating blocks from Cornell University
Youtube video: Festo - Molecubes
Creative Machines Lab page: Machine self-replication
GitHub repository: Molecubes - Blueprints, source code and circuit schematics
molecubes.org website: Detailed build materials and instructions Archived