Researchers at the IST have developed a network of self-organising and self-assembling robots. This system composed of a number of simple, insect-like robots, built out of relatively cheap components, capable of sel-assembling and self-organising to adapt to environments. This novel approach finds its theoretical roots in recent studies in swarm intelligence, that is, in studies of the self-organising and self-assembling capabilities shown by social insects and other animal societies.
more information here
