Termites inspire robot builders
US scientists have developed small robots that behave much like termites.
The insects build impressive, metres-high structures even though they can follow only simple rules and have no knowledge of an overall plan.
The Harvard Wyss Institute's robot brick-layers do something similar, sensing just the immediate area and taking limited cues from each other.
This video shows the robots in action.
Video courtesy of Science/AAAS
13 Feb 2014
- From the section Science & Environment