Robots with a hive mind which can link together in different physical constellations to improve the collective performance, that’s a Swarmanoid. Swarmanoid, The Movie shows the Swarmanoid in action as it completes its mission capturing a book. There are footbots, handbots and flying eyebots. The eyebot gathers intelligence with its mounted camera’s and when it has located the book it sends the data to the swarm. This moves the footbots into action. Two footbots attach themselves to a handbot to transport it to the shelf where the book is situated. Arrived on destination the handbot disengages from the transporter bots and climbs up the shelf and grabs the coveted book in its hand. Mission completed.

It’s a cool video that combines R2-D2 cuteness with marvelous real life robotics. But it’s also slightly disconcerting. It’s cute now but what will this Swarmanoid grow into in the future? Are we witnessing The Borg in the making?



Photo: Mobots