Robots That Eat Robots? Meet the Future of Self‑Sustaining Machines

Columbia University researchers have unveiled a startling new capability in robotics: machines that can physically grow, heal, and upgrade themselves by absorbing parts from other robots—or even their surroundings. Dubbed "robot metabolism," this innovation uses modular, magnetized units called "Truss Links" that self-assemble into adaptive 2D and 3D structures. In one exciting demo, a tetrahedral robot added an extra link as a makeshift walking stick and boosted its downhill speed by over 66 %. This leap toward self-sustaining robotic systems could transform missions in harsh environments like disaster zones or outer space.

"True autonomy means robots must not only think for themselves but also physically sustain themselves," explains Philippe Martin Wyder  , lead author and researcher at Columbia Engineering and the University of Washington. "Just as biological life absorbs and integrates resources, these robots grow, adapt, and repair using materials from their environment or from other robots."