Replicators (RAR!)

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2005-05-12 01:02pm

BBC wrote:US robot builds copies of itself

By Roland Pease
BBC science correspondent

US researchers have devised a simple robot that can make copies of itself from spare parts.

Writing in Nature, the robot's creators say their experiment shows the ability to reproduce is not unique to biology.

Their long-term plan is to design robots made from hundreds or thousands of identical basic modules.

These could repair themselves if parts fail, reconfigure themselves to better perform the task they have been set, or even to make extra helpers.

So far, the robots, if they can be called that, consist of just three or four mobile cubes.

Each unit comes with a small computer code carrying a blueprint for the layout of the robot, electrical contacts to let it communicate with its neighbours, and magnets to let them stick together.

By turning and moving, the cubes can pick up new units, decide where they belong, and stack them alongside each other to make new devices.

In a little more than a minute, a simple three-cube robot can make a copy of itself.

That offspring version can then make further copies. It is only a toy demonstration of the idea, but lead researcher Hod Lipson, of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, has bold plans for these intelligent modular machines.

"Space applications clearly come to mind. If you're sending a robot to one of Jupiter's moons, and the robot breaks, then the mission is over," Dr Lipson told the BBC.

"So you would like to have a robotic system that can adapt, or to repair itself, remotely. So that would be one clear application."

Other applications could be down mines or in nuclear facilities. The researchers have previously used aspects of evolution to help them design robots.

Combining this with the biology of self-repair and of replication would make huge changes to the field of robotics.

The experiment shows reproduction is not unique to biology, the scientists argue

Electrical contacts let each cube communicate with its neighbours

Ender · Post by **Ender** » 2005-05-12 01:41pm

cool and at the same time frightening.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2005-05-12 01:45pm

Ah, we're on our way to non-biological von Neumann machines.

Solauren · Post by **Solauren** » 2005-05-12 02:35pm

I wonder what the Asgard will say about this?

HOwever, in all seriousness, I can see applications for this in the space program.

Chmee · Post by **Chmee** » 2005-05-12 02:39pm

There was a fairly lengthy piece on this on NPR this morning ...

Link

Link at that page to the audio report, and a couple robot videos.

Enforcer Talen · Post by **Enforcer Talen** » 2005-05-12 02:49pm

its the end of the world as we know it. . .

Losonti Tokash · Post by **Losonti Tokash** » 2005-05-12 03:18pm

In keeping with the robot apocalypse theme:

I, for one, welcome our new Lego masters.

Lancer · Post by **Lancer** » 2005-05-12 03:30pm

I don't see how it's supposed to make copies of itself yet, but it is cool nonetheless.

Quadlok · Post by **Quadlok** » 2005-05-12 03:49pm

Not all that impressive, as all they are are self stacking blocks. Call me back when they can actually refine their own metals, make plastics, and build themselves with no oversight. Then I might be a bit worried.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2005-05-12 04:05pm

and a few more hundred years down the line we'll have replicators. then we'll really be screwed.

Nephtys · Post by **Nephtys** » 2005-05-12 05:09pm

Quadlok wrote:Not all that impressive, as all they are are self stacking blocks. Call me back when they can actually refine their own metals, make plastics, and build themselves with no oversight. Then I might be a bit worried.

Quadlok, don't you see the implications? First today they build and stack blocks. Tomorrow, they'll build and stack even more blocks... but what happens if they decide to stack at faster and faster rates? Their block-stacking will become nigh unstoppable, and then humanity is doomed! Will our new block-stacking rulers be gentle and spare humanity from being crushed under their cubical plastic heels? Or will they destroy every last one of us with their spires of white plastic tyrany?

I for one, welcome our new cubical overlords...

Vanas · Post by **Vanas** » 2005-05-12 06:01pm

Nephtys wrote: Quadlok, don't you see the implications? First today they build and stack blocks. Tomorrow, they'll build and stack even more blocks... but what happens if they decide to stack at faster and faster rates? Their block-stacking will become nigh unstoppable, and then humanity is doomed! Will our new block-stacking rulers be gentle and spare humanity from being crushed under their cubical plastic heels? Or will they destroy every last one of us with their spires of white plastic tyrany?

I for one, welcome our new cubical overlords...

And this is why you should remember to a) never programme the 3 laws into Stack-Bot 3000, and b) make them dependent on plugs, not batteries.
They get too high, *YOINK!* Problem solved.

wolveraptor · Post by **wolveraptor** » 2005-05-12 10:28pm

Meh. I was hoping for robots that took raw materials like metal, plastic, etc. and made a copy. If the spare parts are already assembled, and just put together, it ain't so hot.

Still, it's a step forward. Just wait a hundred years when the Earth is mined apart by rampaging von Neumann machines.

And now for an obligatory Ahnuhld quote: "Desire is irrelavent. I am a machine!"

wautd · Post by **wautd** » 2005-05-13 02:48am

Losonti Tokash wrote:In keeping with the robot apocalypse theme:

I, for one, welcome our new Lego masters.

/strike

Molyneux · Post by **Molyneux** » 2005-05-13 10:44am

Quadlok wrote:Not all that impressive, as all they are are self stacking blocks. Call me back when they can actually refine their own metals, make plastics, and build themselves with no oversight. Then I might be a bit worried.

I'd say at this point, that's a matter of degree of ability, not kind...

Lord Zentei · Post by **Lord Zentei** » 2005-05-13 01:37pm

Molyneux wrote:
Quadlok wrote:Not all that impressive, as all they are are self stacking blocks. Call me back when they can actually refine their own metals, make plastics, and build themselves with no oversight. Then I might be a bit worried.
I'd say at this point, that's a matter of degree of ability, not kind...

Well, not quite: the complexity of the cubes' internal structure is far greater than the stack of cubes and more importantly the cubes can cause no chemical or structural changes in materials they can get ahold of. Still, it's a step.