# Robotic Budding: Homogeneous Modular Robots Achieve Physical Self-Replication

- Source: arXiv cs.RO
- Published: 2026-10-26T04:00:00.000Z
- RoboHot: https://robohot.news/en/items/jjoi247ku9qn976mrca3m2nul
- Original: https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.31929

## Summary

Researchers propose a standardized robotic module that combines a magnetic docking interface with two actuated joints and can fold from a flat two-dimensional configuration into three-dimensional structures. Modules of a 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, an operator steers an assembled parent robot to dock magnetically in sequence with spare modules, assembling a second, structurally identical individual that then separates from the parent. The parent retains all of its original modules, forming budding-style physical reproduction.