If you put 45 different animals in the same cage, you might expect the larger critters to attack the smaller ones.
In that sense at least, the inhabitants of a new zoo in Vila Franca de Xira, Portugal, are no exception. However, the Robotarium X is the first zoo dedicated to artificial life. Inside, legged, wheeled and slithering autonomous robots crawl around a 4-metre-high cage made of steel and glass.
Nine larger robots interact with visitors by following their movements, making defensive actions or opening their 鈥減etals鈥� in response to crowds. The more aggressive robots cut the tails off their smaller cousins (watch ). 鈥淲e must start looking at robots as a novel species that is being born to share with us the planet and human society,鈥� says artist Leonel Moura, who designed the zoo.
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