The insects are proving to be an invaluable source of ideas for a researcher who hopes that the robots can perform the same types of collective tasks that make the ants and bees.
 
 Dr. Zhang Hong, a professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Alberta, and his team, working in the Multi-Robot Systems (MRS by its acronym in Spanish). An MRS is a group of robots smaller than a can of paint. They move as independent units but are programmed for collective decision-making and to develop tasks that involve construction work in teams.
 
 Zhang and his colleagues are using models of social insects like ants and bees. The ants of the species L. albipennis choose a new site for their anthill in three steps: search, communication and commitment. Individual ants are dispersed to find a convenient location for the nest, then “talk” to her mates on the site examined, and some just making the acceptance of most of the colony that the proposed location for it is perfect for the new anthill.
 
 Zhang uses algorithms to capture data manageable in this behavior and recreate it in the MRS. In this work, “biologically inspired” success is based on the ability of robots to complete various experiments involving the transportation group and the collective construction using the algorithms of decision-making equipment.
 
 The key, according to Zhang, is to decentralize the command. No robot is the boss, but it should be a general agreement of the group to accomplish the tasks, a skill that is critical to the MRS act as a single entity. For Zhang, this is the most fascinating part of the investigation.
 
 “For me it is more interesting and useful to use MRS instead of a single robot. To win in the ability of parallel execution of tasks and to increase the robustness of a system, it takes multiple robots.”
 
 This redundancy, which involves the simultaneous performance of multiple robots, is an extremely useful. If a robot fails, the rest of the team of robots can still complete the mission.
 
 The other part of the investigation is in the collective construction. Zhang is using two methods of collective construction of structures modeled on those used by insects. One is the use of the earlier work to stimulate and guide the current activity. The previous actions of the robots can be used to repeat a pattern of construction. The other is the release of “robotic pheromones” in a specific area, where other robots workers will be induced to add materials to the structure.
 
 Thanks to this ability to make collective decisions, and their skills in the construction equipment, systems of multiple robots could be used to build lunar bases or Martian in future space missions. Many of its characteristics also make them strong candidates to help save lives in natural disasters or terrorist attacks.