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The androgynous fastener is lightweight and facilitates assembly through simple actuation with large driver-positioning tolerance requirements. This fastener provides a high-strength, reversible mechanical connection and may be used in high strength-to-weight ratio structural systems, such as lattice structure systems. The androgynous fastener resists tensile and shear forces upon loading of the lattice structure system thereby ensuring that the struts of the lattice structure system govern the mechanical behavior of the system. The androgynous fastener eliminates building-block orientation requirements and allows assembly in all orthogonal build directions. This androgynous fastener may be captive in building-block structural elements thereby minimizing the logistical complexity of transporting additional fasteners. Integration of a plurality of the androgynous fasteners into a high performance, robotically managed, structural system reduces launch energy requirements, enables higher mission adaptivity and decreases system life-cycle costs. The androgynous fastener is beneficial in any application where robotic end effectors are used to join structural components (or other parts) together. It may be particularly desirable for applications requiring frequent movement of hardware to an assembly site to replace joint connections.