Largest Robot Swarm

From Wired:  Another example of robotic swarms.  The idea might be to use a large number of relatively simple robotics to perform a task, the task might be sensory, for example.  We examined a a large warehouse inventory problem.  Having many simple robots means they are redundant and could perform the task more quickly.   More complex tasks might include performing cooperative activities.

 " ... Alone, the simple little robot can’t do much, shuffling around on three vibrating tooth-pick legs. But working with 1,000 or more like-minded fellow bots, it becomes part of a swarm that can self-assemble into any two-dimensional shape.

These are some of the first steps toward creating huge herds of tiny robots that form larger structures—including bigger robots. Building swarming robots can also help scientists understand collective behavior seen in nature, from bird flocks and fish schools to networks of cells and neurons. ... "