Termite-inspired robots build structures without central command
Simple guidelines keep machines hauling and placing bricks
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BUILDER BOT This building robot uses a forklift-style arm to hoist foam bricks onto its back and three-pronged wheel-legs to trek around a construction site. An onboard computer “brain” helps the bot navigate and make building decisions independently.
Courtesy of Eliza Grinnell/Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences