A groundbreaking new project shows how robots could soon work together in swarms, bringing an idea from a TV show to life.

A team of scientists has been inspired by the series Stargate which features robots which work together - although not always for the good of mankind - and have come up with a prototype for how similar technology could benefit the real world.

Researchers from ten universities who are collaborating in the European Union-funded Symbrion programme hope "swarm robots" could be applied to real-life situations and that given time, they would manage their own hardware and software and even self-heal where damaged.

Prof Alan Winfield, of the University of the West of England, Bristol, said: "A swarm could be released into a collapsed building following an earthquake.

"They could form themselves into teams searching for survivors or to lift rubble off stranded people.

"Some robots might form a chain allowing rescue workers to communicate with survivors while others assemble themselves into a 'medicine bot' to give first aid."

He added the first robot swarms would be ready for use in real-life situations between ten and 15 years from now..

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.