Someday robots will be doing a lot more than just shoveling snow or defusing bombs. Our future robot overlords continue to evolve, and the latest iteration is this SuperBot modular robotic system, created by the Information Sciences Institute at USC. Each pair of cubes act as an independent robot that can either function on its own or cooperate with others. The pairs each have a microprocessor inside, and six sides that can connect up with their robot brothers and sisters.

In the picture above, the bots are configured in a walking mode, but they can also attach to each other in a linear fashion, moving along like a caterpillar. They can climb ropes, and even configure themselves as a vehicle with some of them acting as wheels.

Take a look at video showing more of the things these remarkable bots can do after the jump, along with more pictures.

Flaunting all that versatility, Wei-Min Shen of the ISI recently presented this technology to NASA, which might consider using this shape-shifting tech in space. — Charlie White

Information Sciences Institute (lots more video), via Eureka Alert