Nanotech Roadmap Progress

A few months ago, the Foresight Nanotech Institute and the Battelle research organization announced that they would work together to produce a Technology Roadmap for Productive Nanosystems.

This is what they provide as background:

Both biological examples and analyses based on molecular physics indicate that productive molecular machine systems can enable economical, large-scale fabrication of products built with atomic precision. However, a daunting implementation gap separates the nanostructures of today from the complex productive nanosystems of the future. How can this gap be narrowed and eventually closed?

The development of adequate tools to build these systems will require several intermediate stages, each building on the results of the previous stage. Biopolymers (DNA, protein) can provide a basis for the design and fabrication of atomically-precise, self-assembling composite structures — they can form molecular components that bind and organize diverse nanostructures (nanotubes, macromolecules) to form molecular machine systems. This engineering capability will enable the design and fabrication of an initial generation of productive nanosystems. These in turn can be used to build non-biomolecular self-assembling structures, including a more advanced generation of productive nanosystems.

Further steps can lead from the production of 1-dimensional polymers to 2- and 3-dimensional covalent structures, from self-assembly to simpler, mechanical construction methods, and from microscopic systems to desktop-scale factories.

Yesterday, at the Foresight Conference in San Francisco, Eric Drexler (a foremost member of the Roadmap team) presented an overview of the project so far, and offered more information about the "DC10c" dimer transfer tool that he has designed in cooperation with Damian Allis.

To keep pace with technical developments in the Roadmap effort, CRN has organized a Task Force of experts in many disciplines to explore the societal, environmental, and geopolitical implications of "desktop-scale factories," and to prepare comprehensive recommendations for the safe and responsible use of advanced nanotechnology.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Comments

[Jessica]

I was wondering if wether or not the concept of widespread Nanotechnology is a true, or speculative problem. Where does it exactly come from, and what on earth can be the solution to prevent harm? How can we personally stop any adverse affects from harming humanity, or how can we personally protect ourselves. what exactly can one person do. Writing a congress member, or staying away from certain products, and manufacturing companies, seems infeasible.

[Paul UK]

Re: Jessica comments

There's a certain amount of residual fear about Nanotechnology currently, mainly because its lexicon is full of polysyllabic technical terms and therefore difficult to understand and is also relatively new in terms of public debate, so there is a low level of general comprehension and a high level of myth associated with it.

At this stage, widespread nanotechnology production is a speculative concept, rather than an actuality: considerable investment is required in both the environment to produce nanotech (labs, equipment, etc) and also the investment in time to be competent in producing nanotech successfully.

One consideration in this story is that the main protagonists are scientists who require ongoing funding grants to continue their work - people listen much more closely to those who stimulate fear, rather than those who suggest we have nothing to worry about, resulting in enhanced funding opportunities for those scientists who can 'protect' society.

In answer to your queries:

what on earth can be the solution to prevent harm?
By the time this technology becomes truly widespread - and we are talking decades here, governments will have a far better idea (and therefore control via legislation) over the implications involved in supply and monitoring of services, materials, finance and so on.

How can we personally stop any adverse affects from harming humanity, or how can we personally protect ourselves.

Mainly through education and subsequent avoidance of risks. A good entry level overview can be found here:

http://www.crnano.org/safe.htm

what exactly can one person do. Writing a congress member, or staying away from certain products, and manufacturing companies, seems infeasible.

You're right. The best way to do anything is to become involved, educate yourself to raise awareness and communicate with others for better understanding. Once this process is started, further Q & A become easier to access and resolve. Don't believe everything thats written in the press, as its not always researched properly and fails to provide a fully comprehensive view.

I hope this helps.