from MIT, Columbia, Cornell, and Harvard Universities

has developed computationally simple robots

that connect in large groups to move around,

transport objects and complete other tasks.

Made of plastic, magnets and basic electronics

each robot in this so called "particle robotics" system

is almost static when isolated.

Designed only to expand and contract.

But when you put a number of these robots together

they move in time and the system becomes

much more robust.

- We are interested in developing

the science of autonomy.

Particularly when multiple robots work together.

And for this reason we designed a robot we call

the particle robot.

The robot is actually inspired by the idea

that natural organisms have cells.

And these cells connect together

and work together to form larger organisms.

And what we would like to do with these robots

is study the mechanisms, the principles,

and the algorithms that enable

these robots to come together to form

larger structures that are mobile,

that can be used to perform tasks.

- [Narrator] Because of their circular shape,

individual robotic particles can assemble into

many configurations and fluidly navigate

around obstacles, squeeze through tiny gaps,

and move things along.

Uniquely, none of the individual robots

or particles as the researchers refer to them,

directly communicate or rely on each other to function.

So particles can be added or subtracted

without any impact on the larger group.

- So each of the robots we designed

has these magnetic connectors,

which will allow multiple particles

to connect together at any orientation.

And each of the robot can expand and contract.

- And so by making and breaking connections

and employing expansion and contraction,

an individual module is able to help move

an entire system of particles in the desired direction.

- [Narrator] Traditionally, robots are designed

for one purpose, comprise many complex parts,

and stop working when any part malfunctions.

Robots such as these could enable more scalable,

flexible and robust systems.

- In our future work we plan

to add sensors to this robot to detect

the pushing and pulling force of each particle.

And we also plan to build a new system

made of much smaller particles.

- [Narrator] One day they hope to have

robotic cells that can be assembled in different ways

to make different robots.

And perhaps even contain the ability

to develop themselves. As the systems goals change

it's body could change too.

(upbeat piano music)