Large constructions do not require large machines. Small…

April 1, 2026

Large constructions do not require large machines. Small robots can build copies of themselves and larger robots, which in turn build even larger ones — matching the exponential throughput scaling found in biological assembly. — Abdel-Rahman et al., MIT CBA

Bib

Self-replicating hierarchical modular robotic swarms | Communications Engineering paper Abdel-Rahman, Cameron, Jenett, Smith & Gershenfeld

Backlinks

Exponential Assembly Scaling Large constructions do not require large machines — they require machines that can make more of themselves at multiple scales (xettel). →

Continuous Assembly

2039381189363130402 — small robots can build copies of themselves and larger ones (MIT CBA)

Discrete Modular Materials — reversible blocks enabling reconfiguration and reuse

Material-Robot System — robot and material are the same blocks

Hierarchical Assembly — small assemblers build bigger assemblers at each scale

Exponential Assembly Scaling — self-replication + hierarchy → throughput O(2^N)

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Self-Replicating Hierarchical Modular Robotic Swarms This paper provides evidence that physical assembly can scale like software deployment — not through bigger machines, but through more and smarter small ones (xettel). It directly supports the continuous assembly thesis that the physical world can be treated as a build target. →