VIDEO: This tiny robot can build itself, do its job, and recycle itself

Well, there’s no way this is the plot to an apocalyptic thriller.

Researchers at MIT have built a robot that not only builds itself, but walks, swims, and carries objects - all from a 2cm square piece of plastic.

The tiny automaton is only made up of two parts - a sheet of foldable plastic and a magnet. All it needs is a little heat, and voila - a tiny, insect-like worker.