Molecubes

Molecubes are a collection of modular robots created by Hod Lipson and Victor Zykov from Cornell University. A molecube is made of two rotatable halves, one with the microprocessor which represents the intelligence behind the unit, and the other with a motor for rotating the joint. A group of the cubes can be connected into a variety of shapes.

Original molecubes in motion

A robot constructed entirely of molecubes would be able to repair itself using extra cubes, and to create a copy of itself using the same number of cubes.^[1] Physical self-reproduction of both a three- and a four-module robot was demonstrated.^[2][3] Subsequent open-source development, with support from Microsoft Research and Festo^[4] reduced size and weight of the molecubes.^[5] Additional molecube types were produced including: hinges, grippers, batteries, wheels, cameras and more.^[6]

See also

• Self-reconfiguring modular robot