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MIT researchers say they've created a transformer-like robot device that can take on almost any shape imaginable.
The contraption, which is roughly the size of a caterpillar, is made of metal rings and strips (pictured below) and designed to twist like a protein. Inside, there's a small motor that's able to hold its position without power -- similar to the beastly electromagnets used to lift cars in scrap yards, where a strong magnet is paired with a weaker one, TG Daily reports.
MIT's new model pairs electromagnets and permanent magnets, using power only during charging, not while its switched on or off. Researchers say the device, which they've nicknamed "milli-motein," brings them closer to the idea of programmable matter -- an emergence of computer programs and materials into a programmable, shape-shifting form. In short: a more versatile robot.
Watch the video above to learn more. What ways could this be helpful to you? Tell us what you think in the comments.