Synthetic active collectives, composed of many nonliving individuals capable of cooperative changes in group shape and dynamics, hold promise for practical applications and for the elucidation of guiding principles of natural collectives. However, the design of collective robotic systems that operate effectively without intelligence or complex control at either the individual or group level is challenging. We investigate how simple steric interaction constraints between active individuals produce a versatile active system with promising functionality. Here we introduce the link-bot: a V-shape-based, single-stranded chain composed of active bots whose dynamics are defined by its geometric link constraints, allowing it to possess scale- and processing-free programmable collective behaviors. A variety of emergent properties arise from this dynamic system, including locomotion, navigation, transportation, and competitive or cooperative interactions. Through the control of a few link parameters, link-bots show rich usefulness by performing a variety of divergent tasks, including traversing or obstructing narrow spaces, passing by or enclosing objects, and propelling loads in both forward and backward directions. The reconfigurable nature of the link-bot suggests that our approach may significantly contribute to the development of programmable soft robotic systems with minimal information and materials at any scale.

翻译：合成活性集体由许多无生命的个体组成，能够实现群体形态与动力学的协同变化，这为实际应用和阐明自然集体的指导原则带来了希望。然而，设计在个体或群体层面无需智能或复杂控制即可有效运行的集体机器人系统具有挑战性。我们研究了活性个体间简单的空间相互作用约束如何产生具有前景功能的多功能活性系统。本文介绍链接机器人：一种基于V形结构的单链式活性机器人链，其动力学由其几何链接约束定义，使其能够拥有无尺度且无需处理的程序化集体行为。该动态系统涌现出多种特性，包括运动、导航、运输以及竞争性或合作性相互作用。通过控制少数链接参数，链接机器人展现出丰富的实用性，能够执行多种不同的任务，包括穿越或阻塞狭窄空间、绕过或包围物体，以及向前和向后推动负载。链接机器人的可重构特性表明，我们的方法可能对开发在任何尺度下均只需最少信息和材料的可编程软体机器人系统做出重要贡献。