Can robots grow by consuming others?
Robot Metabolism: Towards machines that can grow by consuming other machines
This paper introduces "robot metabolism," a system where robots grow, self-repair, and adapt by consuming and integrating components from their environment or other robots. Researchers demonstrate this concept with a modular, truss-based robotic system using simple bar-shaped modules (Truss Links) that connect magnetically. The system shows self-assembly, self-reconfiguration, and basic damage recovery.
Key points for LLM-based multi-agent systems: The Truss Links act as independent agents, coordinating via a central server and custom communication protocol. This demonstrates the feasibility of decentralized control in physically embodied agents, suggesting potential for applying similar principles to virtual agents in more complex scenarios. While simplistic, the robots' ability to "grow" and recover from damage by exchanging parts offers a tangible example of agent collaboration and resource management which could inspire new algorithms for resource allocation and fault tolerance in multi-agent AI systems.