see link [00:09:08]

These ants gather the solar heat on their bodies and walk themselves into the nest where they transfer it to a central storage. Then come out again to bask in the sun.
-- pashute, Jun 29 2021

real solar heating ants https://www.youtube...=RZ0DxSujfIU&t=9m8s
[pashute, Jun 29 2021]

That whole surface to volume thing and travelling to far. Maybe, polar fur hamster-like robots.
-- wjt, Jul 11 2021


As alluded to by [wjt], it's about the ratio. High area/low volume to collect heat, Low area/high volume to store. Taking your "ants" to the obvious limit, you use a liquid. Easy to spread out & then concentrate for the two stages, easy to transport, & already baked...
-- neutrinos_shadow, Jul 11 2021



random, halfbakery