A Proof of Concept of Self Replicating Robots for Space Settlements

Abstract

Efficient agriculture in a hazardous environment is an essential factor for space settlement. At the same time, transporting resources for settlement is very expensive and, to a certain extent, impracticable. It is therefore necessary to find techniques and tools to exploit resources on site. The aim of the project presented in this paper consisted in realizing a partially Self Replicating mobile Robot (SRR) that can monitor and helping to cultivate plants. The fibers of the plants have been used to build the frame of another SRR. This way, except for the electronic components, it was possible to replicate the robot through cultivated plants. In particular, it was possible to replace the weight of the new robot of 30%.