Researchers at the Chinese University of Hong Kong's Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory in Shenzhen demonstrated a swarm of small snail-inspired spherical robos capable of collectively solving physical problems.

In the experiment, five identical robos had to transport a unit from a lower platform to a higher one, separated by a void without ramps, rails or pre-existing structures, the solution did not come from the environment, but from the robos themselves, instead of depending on a fixed mechanism, the robos physically connect and form a temporary structure.

Four of them are stacked creating a sloping column, while the fifth ascends that “living ramp,” as this happens, the steals at the base adjust position and inclination to redistribute the weight, like people balancing by holding something heavy together; Once the task is finished, the structure falls apart and each robot moves on its own again.

The swarm begins to function as a single articulated body, even though it is made up of simple units. The structure is not fixed, it is not rigid and it is not permanent, it exists only for the necessary time, it is a theft that is born, fulfills its function and disappears.

This idea attacks a classic problem of terrestrial robotics, very mobile robots tend to be structurally weak, very stable robots tend to be slow and rigid; The snail-inspired system balances this with two connection modes. A freer one using magnets for quick mobility and a stronger one using vacuum suction to support loads.

The result is a swarm that builds its own “body” as needed, something extremely promising for unpredictable environments such as disaster zones, planetary exploration or autonomous construction.