Scientists have developed swarms of robots that can perform tasks and even be dropped from helicopters. Check out the video!

Hundreds of robots, each with a single task. This could involve military applications or humanitarian efforts. Countless tiny robots, each the size of a palm, can swiftly survey an area after a forest fire. They will search for victims, identify sites with toxic materials, and assess the spread of the fire.

This is just one scenario that is becoming a reality thanks to the work of Markus Niemitz, an associate professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Tufts University (USA). For many years, he has been developing concepts in swarm robotics and searching for ways to create tangible prototypes of such robots.

Technological Breakthrough

Together with graduate student Jem Aigul, Niemitz has created a durable robot that can be printed on a 3D printer in just a few hours. This dramatically reduces production time and costs, enabling the printing of hundreds of robots per day.

Features of the New Robots

Unlike traditional rigid robots, Niemitz's designs combine soft and hard components. This allows the devices to withstand falls from heights (for instance, being dropped from a helicopter), and to navigate uneven terrain, sand, and even rocks.

The limbs of the robots resemble the structure of mammal or reptile limbs: rigid bone structures are connected by soft joints. This ensures smooth movements and adaptability to any surface.

Swarm robots promise to become an indispensable tool in combating natural disasters, military threats, and environmental issues. The devices can be employed for landmine clearance, monitoring glacier changes, and more.

Previously, "Telegraph" reported how in the USA, unknown individuals disrupted home vacuum robots, causing them to chase their owners. Typically, robots are quite obedient and capable of following commands described verbally, particularly for cleaning and sorting tasks.