A team of researchers has successfully created miniature robots that can collaborate to form a collective entity, capable of changing its shape and transitioning between solid and liquid-like states. Inspired by the iconic T-1000 robotic assassin from “Terminator 2,” this innovative concept has long fascinated both the scientific community and fans of science fiction, sparking imagination and curiosity.

Led by Matthew Devlin from UC Santa Barbara, the research team published their findings in a recent issue of Science, outlining their vision for “cohesive collectives of robotic units that can arrange into virtually any form with any physical properties.” This groundbreaking work represents a significant step forward in the development of shape-shifting robotics, with potential applications in various fields.

According to Otger Campàs, a professor at the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Biology and Genetics, the team drew inspiration from the properties of tissues in embryos to design robots with similar capabilities. Each robot is equipped with motorized gears, enabling movement within the collective, magnets for attachment, and photodetectors that allow them to receive instructions from a specially designed flashlight with a polarization filter. This innovative design enables the robots to work together seamlessly, forming a collective entity with unique properties.

While the current prototype is approximately 5 centimeters in diameter, the researchers aim to miniaturize the robots further, with a goal of reducing their size to 1 or 2 centimeters, or even smaller. Although the technology is still in its early stages, and significant challenges, such as size and power constraints, need to be overcome, Campàs acknowledges that the actual implementation is still “far from the Terminator thing.” Nevertheless, this pioneering work marks an exciting milestone in the development of shape-shifting robotics, paving the way for future innovations and potential breakthroughs.