Network of intelligent machines

A self-updating apparatus configured to characterize items or conditions, the apparatus being one apparatus in a network of apparatuses and comprising:

• a first processing unit that includes:
• a first object unit that receives an item;
• a first test unit that applies different types of tests to the item and takes measurements;
• a first sensor that receives outcomes from the different types of tests and generates corresponding output signals;
• a first computation unit that receives the output signals and processes the output signals to generate parameter values;
• a first memory storing parameter data for the item, wherein the parameter data are useful for categorizing the item based on the measurements taken from the item and characteristics calculated using at least one of the measurements and the output signals;
• and
• a first processing module including an artificial intelligence program, the first processing module:
• automatically selecting a source from which to receive new parameter data, wherein the first processing module selects the new parameter data to receive based on measurements taken by the first processing unit;
• automatically modifying the parameter data that are stored in the first memory using the new parameter data received from the source to generate modified parameter data;
• and
• transmitting a subset of the modified parameter data to a recipient, wherein at least one of the source and the recipient is a second processing unit that is configured similarly to the first processing unit.