Physical self-reproduction in modular robots remains difficult because a robot must not only move, but also collect, align, dock, and separate modules reliably in hardware. Taking inspiration from how genetically identical cells form the varied tissues of an organism, we introduce a single standardized robotic module that combines a magnetic docking interface with two actuated joints and folds from a flat, two-dimensional configuration into three-dimensional structures. Modules of this single design can be assembled into two morphologies: a three-module "trilobite" and a five-module "seal". Using a small set of discrete motion commands, a human operator steers an assembled parent robot to dock magnetically with a sequence of spare modules, which are assembled into a second, structurally identical individual that then separates from the parent. Because the parent retains all of its original modules, this is a budding-style form of physical reproduction. Here, we report preliminary hardware demonstrations of this full process on both morphologies. We discuss the current scope of the system, including its present reliance on direct human teleoperation rather than autonomous control, and outline directions toward autonomous execution of this process and repeated validation across a larger number of independent trials.

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