Researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have unveiled FloatForm, a modular swarm robotics system that enables autonomous watercraft to self-assemble into dynamic, programmable structures. Published in Nature Communications by the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory and the Senseable City Lab, the project represents a significant advance in distributed marine robotics. The system addresses urban infrastructure needs by transforming underutilized waterfronts into flexible, reconfigurable spaces. Each unit measures twenty-one centimeters square and operates as an independent vessel equipped with thrusters, sensors, and a magnetic latching mechanism. Inspired by fire ant rafts, the swarm relies on minimal central coordination. Rather than using a single command hub to dictate every movement, a lightweight planner assigns final formation positions while individual robots handle navigation, collision avoidance, and lattice alignment through peer-to-peer communication. This parallel architecture ensures computational complexity scales with local interactions rather than total swarm size, enabling simultaneous fleet movement. The mechanical design prioritizes energy efficiency. An origami-inspired auxetic structure, driven by a central servo, contracts or expands to engage or release alternating-polarity magnets along each hull edge. Once locked, the mechanism consumes zero power, preserving battery capacity for propulsion and computation. Early prototypes struggled with hydrodynamic instability caused by powerful miniaturized thrusters, but the team resolved this through stabilizing fins and refined control algorithms. In controlled tank trials, four to eight boats successfully assembled, reconfigured, and collectively transported themselves as a single rigid platform with high success rates. The system demonstrated resilience to individual failures, with stray units autonomously rejoining formations without disrupting the swarm. Simulations indicate the framework scales smoothly to sixty-four units and beyond. Larger swarms gain hydrodynamic stability in rough conditions, mirroring biological raft structures. Transitioning from laboratory pools to open water will require upgraded positioning systems, reinforced mechanical interlocks, and stronger magnets, though the underlying coordination logic remains sensor-agnostic. The team envisions FloatForm enabling temporary emergency bridges, floating marketplaces, adaptive docking stations, and modular sensor networks for ecological monitoring. Applications extend to offshore maintenance, scientific expeditions, and dense urban waterways globally. Independent experts have praised the architecture for shifting computational burdens onto individual agents, thereby enhancing scalability and fault tolerance. The project builds upon prior MIT research into full-scale autonomous vessels in Amsterdam, demonstrating how miniature modular systems solve complex collective motion challenges. Funded by the Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Metropolitan Solutions and the University of Wisconsin at Madison, the work establishes a new paradigm for distributed aquatic robotics. As urban waterfronts face increasing spatial pressures, FloatForm offers a resilient, on-demand solution for transforming static water surfaces into dynamic, programmable infrastructure.