article_snippet: German engineers have crafted machines that mimic the cooperative behaviour of a colony, because the robots can make individual decisions as well as work as a team.
article_snippet: German engineers have crafted mechanical ants (shown) that mimic the cooperative behaviour of a colony because the robots can make individual decisions as well as work as a team .
article_snippet: German engineering firm Festo said: ‘For the first time, the cooperative behaviour of the creatures has also been transferred to the world of technology using complex control algorithms.
article_snippet: The machines work together to complete difficult tasks, such as manipulating a large object, as real ants do in nature.
article_snippet: The machines do this by using a stereo camera fitted in each robot
article_snippet: They communicate with each other and coordinate both They actions and movements.
highlights_snippet: Machines have cameras and sensors as well as 'grippers' to move objects .
  
highlights_snippet: Machines can make independent decisions and work together as a team .
  