StuffStuff of sci-fi nightmares? An army of robots that reproduce

[emad]

By Steve Connor, Science Editor
12 May 2005


It has been the dream - and nightmare - of science fiction writers for decades. Now a team of engineers has conjured up a robot that can reproduce itself.

The robot can self-replicate in much the same way that some living organisms are able to reproduce by cloning themselves.

Although the machine in question serves no useful purpose other than to make copies of itself, scientists believe it has set a precedent for a future in which robots will proliferate on their own.

In the long term, the scientists envisage a day when armies of self-replicating robots will be able mend themselves when broken, expand their population, explore space and even establish self-sustaining colonies on other planets.

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/science_technology/story.jsp?story=637672

[bemildred]

1. They left out the part where the robots take over and kill all the humans.

I "envisage" a day when soi disant scientists will not make
up this sort of drivel.

[phantom power]

2. These can only "assemble" themselves from a set of premade building blocks

Now, if they ever teach them to make those building blocks, it will be cool.