Bio-robots build themselves

Joseph Jacobson and his team at MIT have developed miniature robots that can self-assemble using parts that float randomly in their environments. The robots also know when something is amiss and can correct their own mistakes.

050928_dna_bots_hmed.hmediu.jpgSequence of self assembly by the miniature robots

The robots come in two colors, yellow (Y) and green (G), and float around on a cushion of air. Each robot is programmed to latch onto a green robot on one side and a yellow robot on the other to form 5-robot strings such as YGGYY or GYYGG.

The robots also have a built-in mechanism to correct any errors they might make. They can check the color of their neighboring blocks and will unlatch themselves if the sequence is not correct.

Via MSNBC.