For many years, the ambition to enhance robot intelligence and physical abilities has driven research to mimic biological cognition and movement. Philippe Wyder, a developmental robotics researcher at Columbia University, challenges this approach, stating, “We need to replicate the methods of biological evolution rather than merely imitating its outcomes.” Leading a team of researchers, Wyder has succeeded in creating a robot that exhibits what they refer to as a primitive form of metabolism.
This innovative robot is capable of consuming other robots, enabling it to physically grow and enhance its capabilities while maintaining functionality.
Inspired by Nature
The concept of robotic metabolism weaves together a variety of ideas within artificial intelligence and robotics. It stems from the field of artificial life, which Wyder describes as an area focused on studying the evolution of organisms through computer simulations. Another key element is the development of modular robots: adaptable machines able to reconfigure themselves by rearranging basic building blocks. This pioneering work was notably advanced in the U.S. by Carnegie Mellon University researchers Daniela Rus and Mark Yim in the 1990s.
Additionally, there is a growing call for a transition from traditional goal-oriented machine designs to those centered around survival — a paradigm observed in living organisms, as discussed by Magnus Egerstedt in his book Robot Ecology.
Wyder’s team combined these concepts to prototype a robot capable of “consuming” other robotic entities. “I approached this from multiple perspectives,” Wyder explains.
Nature’s methods served as a significant source of inspiration for the project. Living organisms are constructed from 20 standard amino acids that can be combined in various ways to create trillions of proteins, forming the basis for diverse life forms. To mimic this, Wyder’s initial focus was on designing a fundamental robotic module that serves a function similar to that of a single amino acid. This module, known as a Truss Link, resembles a rod measuring 16 centimeters in length, housing batteries, electronic controllers, and servomotors that enable it to expand, contract, and crawl in a straight line. Each end of the link features permanent magnets, allowing these rods to connect with one another and form lightweight lattice structures.
