Researchers at MIT have been developing assembling robots that are made up of the same components they use to build structures. The small subunits of robots can move on their own and in large numbers to build much larger structures, quickly accomplishing large-scale assemblies.

Now that the robots can build themselves/each other, the team is working on strengthening the physical connections that make up the robots, so that they can withstand heavier loads.

These autonomous building techniques will be particularly useful in dangerous and hard to access environments like space, deep ocean, etc.