The robots were able to assemble a shelter structure from 256 voxels in 4.2 days. The researchers believe that the system's speed and size can be scaled up by using more robots and optimizing planning and scheduling algorithms. Future versions of the robots are expected to be faster and more reliable, and research will continue on structures that employ swarms of robots.
Key takeaways:
- NASA Ames Research Center has published a paper on the creation and testing of self-reprogrammable mechanical metamaterials, a self-assembling robotic structure that could be used for off-planet construction.
- The structure is assembled by two types of robots, one that carries the building material and another that fastens it into place, neither of which require a powerful sensing system or high precision.
- The robots took 256 voxels and assembled them into a shelter structure over 4.2 days, suggesting that they could be sent ahead of a crew to build structures on Mars or the Moon.
- Future research will focus on improving the speed and reliability of the robots, integrating different types of building blocks into the structures, and exploring the use of swarms of robots for larger construction projects.