Shape-shifting machine can switch between a delivery drone and an arm that can lift and move objects

A shape-shifting robot that can autonomously reconfigure itself into a variety of different shapes has been developed by scientists. The device can perceive its own surroundings, make decisions and autonomously assume different shapes, they say. That means the shape-shifting machine can easily switch between a delivery drone and an arm that lifts and moves objects. It is hoped that similar gadgets will one day be used in search and rescue operations and to explore distant planets. The shape-shifting robot is composed of wheeled, cube-shaped modules that can detach and reattach to form new shapes.