Roblets: A Way of Synthesising Robots

工业4.0使事物能够为自己做出更多的决定，这里集中在智能工厂的概念上。英国制造业占全国经济产出的10%（1910亿英镑），相当于2018年英国研发支出的65%。这一数字为英国建立经济优势留下了可能性，这取决于我们如何领导下一次工业革命。反过来，自主机电设备，如机器人，是通过由人类或机器组装各个部件来设计和生产的。这不仅是数字和现实的无缝融合不可能实现，而且成品不会覆盖其形式和功能。我们希望能够自主生长的机器人能够成为现实。在本项目中，我们提出了一种新的技术，用于实现机器人，该技术将制造，医疗保健，搜索和救援以及机器人技术的优势“综合”。例如，如果一个机器人可以自己建造，如果这样的机器人足够大，可以被吞入体内，它就可以在体内组装，比如在胃里，并可以进行手术。机器人还将能够在执行任务后自毁，通过消化和分解被运送出体外，或者，如果发生损坏，能够自我修复。该项目独特地涉及电磁学，电气工程，机械工程和材料科学，以创造灵活自动化的多功能机器人技术。除了机器人技术，通过实现具有生命能力的人工制品，该项目将提供关于生命如何设计，构建和定义自己的见解。

Industry 4.0 has enabled things to make more decisions for themselves, here centred on the concept of the Smart factory. The manufacturing sector in the UK accounts for 10% of the nation's economic output (£191 billion), corresponding to 65% of the UK's R&D spending in 2018. This amount leaves open the possibility that the UK could establish an economic advantage, depending on how we lead the next industrial revolution. In turn, autonomous mechatronic devices, such as robots, are designed and produced by assembling individual parts by humans or machines. Not only is this a seamless fusion of digital and reality impossible to achieve, but the finished product does not overwrite its form and capabilities afterwards. It is hoped that robots that can grow on their own will become a reality.In this project, we propose a novel technology for realising a robot that 'synthesises' with benefits to manufacturing, healthcare, search and rescue, and robotics technologies at large. For example, if a robot could build itself, and if such a robot were large enough to be swallowed inside the body, it could be assembled inside the body, such as in the stomach, and could perform surgery. The robot will also be able to self-destruct after performing a task, be transported out of the body by digestion and decomposition, or, if a damage occurs, be able to self-repair itself. The project uniquely involves electromagnetism, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and material sciences in the creation of versatile robotic technology for flexible automation. Beyond robotics, through the realisation of artefacts with life-like capabilities, this project will provide insights into how life designs, builds and defines itself.