Nanotech-Built Products

CRN's Thirty Essential Nanotechnology Studies, which we are reviewing all this week, are organized into five sections. The first section (described Monday) covers fundamental theory. The second section (described Tuesday) addresses technological capabilities of possible molecular manufacturing technologies. The third section (yesterday), addresses 'bootstrapping' — the development of the first self-contained molecular manufacturing system. Tomorrow, we'll wrap up with section five, on policies and policymaking.

The fourth section, studies 13-16, explores the capabilities of products.

Section Four: Product Performance

This section suggests metrics for manufacturing and product capability. The following studies should be run for each plausible molecular manufacturing technology. These questions will be answered for diamondoid systems based on the Phoenix nanofactory design.

13. What is the probable capability of the manufacturing system?
14. How capable will the products be?
15. What will the products cost?
16. How rapidly could products be designed?

We are actively looking for researchers interested in performing or assisting with this work. Please contact CRN Research Director Chris Phoenix if you would like more information or if you have comments on the proposed studies.

Tags: nanotechnology nanotech nano science technology ethics weblog blog

Comments

[DT]

I have a question, in your theory is old/waste products recyclable to use the molecules again or would the molecules be too poor of a quality to reuse?

Also how can you produce your own car with a table top machine?

[Phillip Huggan]

I put my latest idea of a post-MNT civilian defense on the wiki. The product to be built is an underground city. It would be a neat idea for the Lifeboat Foundation to develop. I know Japan is presently building some futuristic cities underground.

http://wise-nano.org/w/Post-MNT_civilian_defences

[Chris Phoenix, CRN]

DT,
1) The molecules might need to be broken down to atoms and recycled. Atoms of course can't be damaged by anything short of a particle accelerator, nuclear explosion, etc., so the atoms will be indefinitely reusable.

2) A tabletop machine might produce 1 kg/hr. Sounds like it requires 1000 hours to make a 1000 kg car. But it's not so bad. First, materials will be at least 100 times as strong, so you only have to make at most 10 kg. Then, the motor will almost vanish, because of the higher power density of smaller devices; that saves at least a few kg. Likewise, the battery, the copper wiring, and many of the cosmetic parts can be far lighter.

Finally, if you don't want to wait a few hours for your car, you have your tabletop nanofactory build another one twice as big. From then on, your product manufacturing times are cut in half.

Chris