SCI/TECH: Self replicating robots created

Technologically advanced "bugs," Replicators are programmed by their creators with only one objective: self replication. Anything and everything that interferes with this plan of infestation, annihilation and duplication is immediately at risk.

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Replicators are composed of hundreds of individual blocks, which are comprised of whatever substance the original Replicator has consumed. It is unclear how many blocks make up a standard Replicator, but two Replicators are required to make a third, and thus exponential growth. It takes only a few blocks to replicate new blocks, and in a few hours Replicators can breed from a handful into hundreds.

There are different kinds of Replicators, depending on what the creatures require to achieve their goals. The most common is the "spider" Replicator, with four legs and wing-like flippers on its dorsal side. Another Replicator is much larger and insect-like, appearing in the general shape of a giant fly. It also has four legs, but enormous "wings" allowing it to roll on its back when it lands on the floor, then righting itself. It can also leap great distances.

A third type of Replicator is an assemblage of many thousands of Replicator blocks, which comprise a single, story-tall mother Replicator, capable of siphoning, regulating and energizing an enormous amount of power. Logically, the mother Replicator may also coordinate the activities of all other Replicators.

Replicators generally operate in groups, but it is unclear how their social structure is organized, and there seems to be no apparent means by which they transmit and receive information to and from one another. Despite this absence of information, they are very effective at cooperating with each other to achieve their objectives. If need be, Replicator blocks can simply form a "wall" to block aggressors who would impede their objectives.

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Generally, Replicators will not attack unless they are threatened. They can, in fact, clamor over and past an individual without a hint of malice; but once they are fired upon, a vengeful subroutine in the Replicator makeup emerges, and the creature becomes a serious threat. Their highly acidic "spray," used to help break down metal alloys to create new blocks, is deadly.

by: wecomeinpeace
If we can combine this concept with nano-technology we'll be on the verge of creating hyper-advanced synthetic "organisms", like Bishop in the Aliens series.