title: Robotics: self-reproducing machines.
abstract: Self-reproduction is central to biological life for long-term sustainability and evolutionary adaptation. Although these traits would also be desirable in many engineered systems, the principles of self-reproduction have not been exploited in machine design. Here we create simple machines that act as autonomous modular robots and are capable of physical self-reproduction using a set of cubes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zykov
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mytilinaios
authors.forename: Bryant
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Hod
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lipson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D005075:Biological Evolution; D004867:Equipment Design; D019369:Life; D008954:Models, Biological; D009038:Motion; D012098:Reproduction; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*