In a laboratory in Connecticut, a palm-sized silicone robot scrunches up its body to inch forward in a caterpillar-like motion. A brick tips over onto its leg, trapping it as it struggles to move on.

Called “legged metamachines,” the creations are made from autonomous, Lego-like modules that snap together into an endless number of configurations. Each module by itself is a complete robot with its ...

Modular self-reconfigurable robotics encompasses systems in which individual robotic units can autonomously adjust their configuration to adapt to varying tasks and environmental conditions. These ...