These robots, described as metamachines, represent a significant advancement in robotics. Their modular design allows them to continue functioning even after suffering severe damage, such as the loss of parts. In tests, a robot was struck with a stick, losing its rear half, but still kept moving.

This adaptability is because each of the robot's leggy protrusions, half a meter long, is itself a robot, connecting to each other with spherical elbow joints. This structure gives them incredible versatility, allowing them to reconfigure their forms to navigate complex environments.

Sam Kriegman, roboticist at Northwestern University, explains that these robots are made of other robots, allowing them to survive and continue functioning despite damage. The research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the ability of these robots to adapt to circumstances.

Researchers liken their design to a new "species" of machines, with chameleon-like adaptability. The robots can "undulate like seals, bound like lizards, or spring like kangaroos", showing surprising agility.

These robots are not only resilient but also capable of complex movements. They can instinctively flip themselves over if turned over and even perform acrobatics like pirouettes in the air. Kriegman emphasizes that the goal is to create more resilient robots that can evolve.

The aim is for them to move through the world with a bit of athleticism, more athletic than any other terrestrial modular robot and more athletic than any other evolved robot.

Research on modular robots is not limited to Northwestern University. A team from Columbia University developed a prototype robotic platform called "Truss Link", which can be combined to form a larger unit capable of crawling and even climbing obstacles.

At NASA, engineers have designed a snake-like robot to explore the openings on the surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus. These unorthodox designs suggest that there may be useful alternatives to typical bipedal and quadrupedal designs.

These advances in modular robotics suggest a shift in how we conceive of machines. Instead of clunky androids, the future of robotics could lie in these adaptable structures that can survive and thrive in challenging environments.

The adaptability and resilience of modular robots open up new possibilities for their use in various applications, from space exploration to assistance in natural disasters.