Robots eating other robots: The benefits of machine metabolism
Briefly

Wyder's team developed a robot capable of consuming other robots, allowing it to grow, become stronger, and function more effectively. This concept of robotic metabolism blends artificial life, where the evolution of organisms is studied via simulations, with modular robotics that allows machines to reconfigure their structures. The proposed shift from goal-oriented to survivability-oriented design reflects natural processes, taking cues from how living organisms develop and adapt through combining basic building blocks similar to amino acids in biological proteins.
The concept of robotic metabolism integrates various fields including artificial life, where researchers evaluate the evolution of organisms through computer simulations, and modular robotics, which allows machines to reshape by rearranging basic components. This approach suggests a shift from traditional goal-oriented designs to those emphasizing survivability, mimicking how living organisms adapt and grow over time.
A core innovation of Wyder's research was creating a robot that could consume other robots to physically grow, strengthen, and enhance its capabilities. This machine exemplifies a significant departure from conventional robotics design by integrating natural evolutionary processes.
Read at Ars Technica
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