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Ultralight Modular Robotic Building Blocks for the Rapid Deployment of Planetary Outposts
    Mustafa Emre Karagozler, Brian Kirby, Wei Jie Lee, Eugene Marinelli, Tze Chang Ng, Michael Philetus Weller, Seth Copen Goldstein
    abstract:
    We examine how modular robots can be used to enable remote robotic construction of planetary and orbital outposts. Each modular robot, called a catom, contains sufficient actuation, adhesion, control, and power to allow it to function as part of an ensemble of similar units. We describe the catom design and construction as well as initial experiments carried out to verify the system.