A new robot decides how and when to transform to get the job done
The bot uses magnets to link its parts together in different forms
A robot made of several smaller robotic pieces can autonomously transform its body into shapes best suited for a particular task.
The bot primarily consists of wheeled, cubic “modules” that link up with one another using magnets, forming a small assortment of body types reminiscent of cars or snakes. The brains of the operation reside in a specialized module equipped with cameras and a small computer to map the robot’s environment, plan its routes and control the other modules’ configuration via Wi-Fi.