Self-Healing Robots of Doom From UPenn

OshMan writes "University of Pennsylvania's ModLab is doing some interesting stuff with modular robots. In this case involving absolutely no weapons! An example clip on YouTube shows one of their cluster robots re-assembling itself after being kicked apart. For more information about the program check out their site. So let the Borg and Terminator jokes begin!"

I love it...

[Raistlin77]

The 3 modules spend all that time trying to reassemble after being kicked apart, only to stand up, fall over, and break apart again. Brilliant!

I for one...

[FriendSite.com]

I for one welcome our Rubix Cube overlords ;-)

Jokes aside

[mlwmohawk]

This is an interesting development and one which does slightly worry me.

I don't believe in real machine intelligence just yet, but a device that can re-assemble itself after being dis-assembled is a horrible idea.

First it was the "power switch," most computers don't have a power switch. You have to physically unplug them to be sure. Now, they'll put themselves back together, after you take them apart.

Imagine this in the hands of Microsoft, perhaps a computer will re-install Windows after you've installed Linux? (Functionality in the BIOS of course, BIOS code notices Windows has not called the deadman API recently after power-up. BIOS takes over, DHCP the ethernet card, nuke the hard disk and re-install Windows from the net.)

Leave a room of happy Linux machines, return with a miserable set of windows boxes.

Re:I love it...

[Yvan256]

The lesson is: never try. - Homer Simpson

Roundabout solution

[Sentry21]

I don't get it. Why don't they just make them out of liquid metal? Then they can survive all kinds of things, AND go on killing sprees to eliminate John Connor. Is this not obvious to anyone else?

Re:In other news...

[Starteck81]

A Borg, a Terminator, and Robocop walk into a bar. The bartender looks at them and asks, "Is this some kind of a joke?"

I don't know, is it? Cause you're in desperate need of a punchline.

obFuturama

[Rob T Firefly]

Bender's arms break off. With his left arm he reattaches his right arm, with which he reattaches his left arm.

Fry: I don't know how you did that.