Robots now grow and repair themselves by consuming parts from other machines
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-robots-consuming-machines.html
Robots now grow and repair themselves by consuming parts from other machines
https://techxplore.com/news/2025-07-robots-consuming-machines.html
11 Comments
Submission statement: “Today’s robots are stuck—their bodies are usually closed systems that can neither grow nor self-repair, nor adapt to their environment. Now, scientists at Columbia University have developed robots that can physically “grow,” “heal,” and improve themselves by integrating material from their environment or from other robots.
Described in a new study published in *Science Advances*, this process, called “Robot Metabolism,” enables machines to absorb and reuse parts from other robots or their surroundings.”
Do you want gray goo? This is how you get gray goo!
Well … someone needs to check their SciFi book/game library on what happens when robots can grow and repair by consuming matter.
Horizon Zero Dawn instantly comes to mind …
They were so focused on whether they could they didn’t stop to think whether they should
I want robots able to swim and grow by eating plastic. Just release them in the ocean. Let them return when they reach the mass of container ships.
Don’t forget about the robots that do this but use humans instead of robots? IDK why this is a thing but it is
I can already hear the sweet sound of replicators clink clanking all around town.
Are none of these scientists able to catastrophize?! Answer one question during theory-crafting before diving into physical development: what could possibly go wrong?
Good thing that this cannot go wrong, especially when combined with AI. I appreciate that we all learned from Sci-Fi novels and nobody is taking unnecessar risks.
The title implies all robots can do this but it is just one built for that purpose.
Like humans. We do this. But the machines will be smarter.