New robot ants work like real insects to build and dismantle on their own

Harvard researchers have created "RAnts," robotic ants that mimic real insect behavior to build and demolish structures without blueprints or central control. These simple robots communicate through light fields called "photormones" instead of chemical signals, following basic rules to coordinate as a swarm. The system demonstrates "exbodied intelligence," where collective problem-solving emerges from robots interacting with their environment rather than individual processing power. This breakthrough could enable autonomous construction in dangerous areas and space exploration.