Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 27, 2026

The Modular Design and Production of an Intelligent Robot Based on a Closed-Loop Control Strategy
Published on: October 14, 2017
Modular reconfigurable robots: Toward on-demand multifunctional applications
Guanqi Liang1, Auke Jan Ijspeert2, Mark Yim3
1School of Science and Engineering, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen 518172, China.
None:
Modular reconfigurable robot (MRR) systems have attracted growing attention because of their versatility and ability to operate across diverse domains. Research on MRR systems has made notable progress, evolving from laboratory settings to real-world applications. However, a gap remains in aligning MRR technologies with specific needs, and a comprehensive review of challenges in practical applications is still lacking. To address these issues, this Review adopts an application-oriented perspective. Focusing on locomotion, manipulation, and construction, it proposes a previously unreported perspective centered on real-world demands. The Review outlines these needs and identifies major challenges facing MRR systems, categorized into three areas: general hardware challenges, general software challenges, and application-specific challenges. This Review aims to inform the development of MRR systems from theory to practice through a demand-technology-application approach. By working backward from practical applications to technical requirements, it identifies technological gaps in specific use cases. It also surveys current research, highlighting strengths, limitations, and potential directions while emphasizing key challenges for future progress.
Related Concept Videos
One-Degree-of-Freedom System
A one-degree-of-freedom system is defined by an independent variable that determines its state and behavior. One example of a one-degree-of-freedom system is a simple harmonic oscillator, such as a...
Mechanical Systems
Electro-mechanical Systems
A key component of the DC motor is the armature, a rotating circuit positioned within a magnetic field. As an electric current passes through the...
Control Systems: Applications
In modern vehicles, control systems manage various functions to enhance performance and safety. The steering wheel and accelerator are primary inputs in a car's control system. The...
Sequence Networks of Rotating Machines
Zero-sequence current induces a voltage drop across the generator's neutral impedance and other...
Multi-input and Multi-variable systems
In the absence of...

