Chairing the Artificial Life XI conference, Dr Seth Bullock, the University of Southampton researcher, said creating one complex machine to perform advanced tasks is "extremely challenging", according to the BBC.
However, he claimed smaller and simpler robots which could organise themselves could be the area robotics will soon focus on, with a project at the university demonstrating the benefits of this approach.
Undergraduate students have created a swarm of small robots which can divide up tasks and communicate using infrared technology without relying on a central programme.
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The robots, which were displayed at the conference in Winchester, can be more flexible and have more benefits than using a single machine, the news provider reports.
Klaus-Peter Zauner, the leader of the project, explained: "You might have some complex robot that is sent to Mars, has a technical problem, and then the mission is basically over.
"With swarm robots, even if a percentage of them fails, they'll still be able to achieve their goal.
The Artificial Life conference has been held for the past 21 years and brings together professionals from fields such as biology, mathematics and philosophy to examine the issues facing the robotics field.
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