A group of scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have developed a modular robotic technology that makes it possible for cubes with no external moving parts to climb, roll, jump, and essentially act independently of outside force.

The cubes, called M-Blocks, use an internal component called a flywheel to initiate the movement. The flywheel can reach speeds as fast as 20,000 revolutions per minute, and when the flywheel is suddenly stopped or braked, it gives the block the momentum it needs to exhibit motion.

In addition to the flywheel, each block is outfitted with a number of magnets, which make it possible for the cubes to attach to one another and form more complex shapes, like a scientifically groundbreaking variety of building blocks. Thanks to the magnets, the M-Blocks are not merely curious little gizmos, but components of a simplistic and ingenious modular robotics system that allows for innovative self-assembly.

Of course, magnets bring their own difficulties to the table for reconfigurable robotics. While placing a pair of magnets on the sides of each cube assures that some attachment is possible, the problem of lining up north and south magnetic poles certainly complicated the MIT robotics project. The solution – developed by former MIT student and current MIT researcher John Romanishin – is a system of cylindrical magnets. Instead of using fixed magnets to bring the cubes together, Romanishin figured out a way to use magnets that could rotate on the fly in order to line up poles.

Romanishin’s magnetic innovation makes it possible for the M-Blocks to connect in any manner and formulate virtually any design. One of the visions at MIT is to be able to have a vast collection of cubes, scattered across a room, and to be able to use a complex algorithm to order those cubes to build a chair, a desk, a ladder, or some other complex design. Since different cubes can be used to initiate different kinds of motion, the versatility and potential for M-Blocks is truly unlimited.

What are some other possibilities for the cubes? The MIT scientists behind the project believe this new M-Block technology could be used in everything from construction projects to disaster relief and repair efforts. Ultimately, the technology could even be miniaturized, with the current building-block-sized cubes giving way to microscopic nanobots that could more or less assemble into anything. However, that possibility – which sounds a bit like the beginning of an apocalyptic science fiction film – is still years away.