Imagine a robot that, when it lacks energy or parts, simply approaches a broken colleague... and "eats" it. Does it sound like a plot from a dark blockbuster? And this is reality — more precisely, a real experiment conducted by scientists from Columbia University. They presented a revolutionary concept: robots capable of "eating" each other in order to survive, grow and even evolve. Yes, you heard right. Machines can now... feed.
This is not about disassembly for spare parts. It's about something more — about "robotic metabolism." Scientists were inspired by living organisms: Just as bacteria absorb nutrients to grow and divide, these robots can "recycle" the materials of other robots—their bodies, electronics, and connections—and use this to repair themselves, grow, or even create new "individuals."
How does it work? So far, at the prototype level. Small robots are equipped with mechanisms that allow them to recognize, capture and "digest" certain components of other machines. The materials obtained are used to repair damaged components, build up new functions, or simply recharge energy through recycling. It's as if your smartphone could "eat" an old battery and become more powerful.
Why is this necessary? Firstly, for autonomy. Imagine robotic explorers on Mars or in the depths of the ocean, where there are no service centers. If one is broken, the other can use it as a resource and continue the mission. Secondly, it is a breakthrough in sustainability and ecology — instead of landfills of robots, they simply recycle each other, creating a closed cycle.
Scientists say: This is a step towards creating robotic ecosystems. Entire colonies of machines that live, compete, cooperate, and adapt like biological species. Some are hunters, others are "plants" (solar), and others are processors. All this can revolutionize not only space, but also construction, logistics, and medicine.
But, of course, the question arises: what if they become too smart? What if one day these "smart death eaters" get out of control and start... conquering the planet? Scientists reassure us that so far this is not AI with consciousness, but just algorithms and mechanics. But the boundary is blurred. If robots can grow, reproduce, and adapt, how are they fundamentally different from life?
So maybe the future has already begun. And it's metallic, hungry, and full of surprises.
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