---
title: "These Tiny Robots Can Build Anything, Including Their Own Tools"
description: "Micro-robots can be used to build anything by forming differently-shaped arrays and building micro factories that fabricate tools for other micro-robots."
date: "2016-03-23"
modified: "2016-03-23"
authors:
  - name: "Miguel Santos"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/heymigstwitter-com"
url: "https://futurism.com/microfactories-micro-robots-build-macro-structures"
categories:
  - "Robotics"
  - "Robots and Machines"
tags:
  - "Industrial robotics"
  - "magnets"
  - "micro robots"
  - "microbots"
  - "microfactories"
  - "robotics"
  - "self-assembly"
---

# These Tiny Robots Can Build Anything, Including Their Own Tools

![](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/microbot.jpg>)
*SRI International \<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL6e3co4Qqc" target="\_blank"\>SRI International\</a\>\</em\>*

##### Tiny Robots

[SRI International](<https://www.sri.com>) is developing micro-robots, each with its own tool that can work together as a swarm to construct macro-scale products. These micro-robots are basically magnets that are controlled with magnetic fields through a printed circuit board substrate. It means these tiny robots are built of simple and low-cost materials that allow for mass production.

The circuit boards guide the direction and speed that the [robots](<https://futurism.com/?s=robots>) move in, enabling movement of up to 35 centimeters per second along even flexing surfaces.

Controlling the robots is a little like moving an army of ants that run on parallel tasks. Robots are distinguished by what’s called “end-effectors,” which in simple terms means the tools these bots use to perform tasks.

SRI envisions enabling assembly heads comprising thousands of micro-robots that can manufacture “high-quality macro-scale products while providing millimeter-scale structural control.”

“For example, some micro-robots will carry components—electronic as well as mechanical—some micro-robots will deposit liquids, and others will perform in situ quality analysis,” says SRI.

These robots will be mounted on a mobile robotic base which would allow a microfactory to build parts of any size.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uL6e3co4Qqc

##### Little Factories

SRI has also found a way to make the robots build their own tools when needed. Since all these micro-robots are basically the same, their tools or “end-effectors” let them carry out varying jobs. The robots can set up their own tool shop where they can fabricate tools for other robots.

The micro-robots can also form into arrays by combining with each other. This allows them to adapt to the particular task at hand.

SRI Robotics Program chief scientist [Ron Pelrine](<https://www.sri.com/about/people/ronald-e-pelrine>) says that the micro-robots could also be integrated within other robots, acting like a sort of robotic immune system that can monitor, maintain, and repair the larger robot from within.

The robotics company is also developing a way to use magnetic levitation to control the robots with better precision.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0JNQW34P74o

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