Puckish robots pull together

June 1, 2004 | Source: Nature Science Update

The frictionless conditions of space are being simulated by air-hockey tables, as a new generation of intelligent robots is trained to build space stations and solar arrays.

The work demonstrates how teams of mobile, communicating robots can perform complex tasks: for example, they can collaborate to push objects over a surface. This is reminiscent of the way ants show group intelligence when carrying out collective tasks such as foraging.

The robots float on a cushion of air while they pick up girders and assemble them into frameworks. These prototypes could lead to robots capable of building space systems such as giant arrays of solar panels. NASA has speculated about constructing arrays up to 10 km long.