This is not what you'd normally expect to see in a press release from a U.S. government scientist:
The first real steps towards building a microscopic device that can construct nano machines have been taken by US researchers. Writing in [a] peer-reviewed publication, researchers describe an early prototype for a nanoassembler.
In his 1986 book, The Engines of Creation, K. Eric Drexler set down the long-term aim of nanotechnology -- to create an assembler, a microscopic device, a robot, that could construct yet smaller devices from individual atoms and molecules.
For the last two decades, those researchers who recognized the potential have taken diminutive steps towards such a nanoassembler. Those taking the top-down approach have seen the manipulative power of the atomic force microscope (AFM), a machine that can observe and handle single atoms, as one solution. Those taking the bottom-up approach are using chemistry to build molecular machinery.
However, neither the top-down nor the bottom-up approach is yet to fulfill Drexler's prophecy of functional nanobots that can construct other machines on a scale of just a few billionths of a meter. . .
Yet the rewards could be enormous with the ultimate potential of creating a technology that can construct almost any material from atoms and molecules from super-strong but incredibly lightweight construction materials to a molecular computer or even nanobots that can make other nanobots to solve global problems, such as food, water, and energy shortages.
Jason Gorman, contact person on the announcement, is with the Intelligent Systems Division of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Here's more from the release:
Gorman and his colleagues at NIST have taken a novel approach to building a nanoassembler and reveal details in a forthcoming issue of the International Journal of Nanomanufacturing. "Our demonstration is still a work in progress," says Gorman, "you might describe it as a 'proto-prototype' for a nanoassembler."
The NIST system consists of four Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) devices positioned around a centrally located port on a chip into which the starting materials can be placed Each nanomanipulator is composed of positioning mechanism with an attached nanoprobe. By simultaneously controlling the position of each of these nanoprobes, the team can use them to cooperatively assemble a complex structure on a very small scale. "If successful, this project will result in an on-chip nanomanufacturing system that would be the first of its kind," says Gorman. . .
Importantly, once the team has optimized their design they anticipate that nanoassembly systems could be made for around $400 per chip at present costs. This is thousands of times cheaper than macro-scale systems such as the AFM.
Gorman points out that it should be possible to have multiple nanoassemblers working simultaneously to manufacture next generation nanoelectronics. At the moment, his team is interested in developing the platform for scientists and engineers to make cutting edge discoveries in nanotechnology. "Very few effective tools exist for manipulation and assembly at the nano-scale, thereby limiting the growth of this critical field," he says.
Assuming this concept can be put into practice, as Gorman and his team expect, it will represent a significant step forward in enabling technologies for molecular manufacturing. It's not all the way there, of course. In fact, several more steps will be required, which may take at least another five to ten years.
But this is an important advance, especially since it comes from within the U.S. scientific community, which up until now has been largely dismissive of molecular manufacturing theory.
On a related note, Freitas and Merkle just released a paper describing nine tooltips that could go at the ends of those four manipulator probes. It is a pretty impressive piece of work. I'm surprised it hasn't hit nanodot or the like.
Posted by: Perry E. Metzger | April 30, 2008 at 10:21 AM
Perry,
It is indeed an impressive piece of work from Freitas and Merkle. What makes it particularly exciting is that they've put forward a number of experimental pathways to fabricate first generation tool-tips (for diamondoid mechanosynthesis).
Philip
Posted by: Philip Moriarty | May 01, 2008 at 01:21 PM
Philip or Perry, do you have a link for that paper? I have not seen it yet.
Posted by: Mike Treder, CRN | May 01, 2008 at 02:06 PM
Hi, Mike.
The paper in question is: A Minimal Toolset for Positional Diamond Mechanosynthesis, Journal of Computational and Theoretical Nanoscience Vol.5, 760–861, 2008. Robert A. Freitas Jr. and Ralph C. Merkle
At the moment a subscription to the journal is required for access but I imagine that Rob will post a copy of the paper on his website as soon as he can.
Best wishes,
Philip
Posted by: Philip Moriarty | May 01, 2008 at 02:59 PM
Mike,
Ralph gave his talk at your conference last summer about the toolset for positional diamond mechanosynthesis, you have the power point presentation.
Posted by: jim moore | May 01, 2008 at 03:04 PM
------FIRST OPEN NETWORK OF NEW SCIENCE & ART MEETING__
Emergence of Self-organization and Information Phenomena in Science and Art
- Friday14, November, 2008
Palazzo Strozzi – Sala Ferri - Florence (Italy)
THE NEW MEASUREMENT OF HUMANITY FLORENTINE REINASSAINCE PROJECT-
---- TOPICS--- -
The research network ON-NS&A with the support of EGOCREANET (IT) / QUANTUMBIONET / IBIOCAT (IT) / SCIENCE & ART CENTRE (Au), will organize the First Meeting in Florence, addressed to develop skills and management in new theoretical perspectives and conceptual logic models, in order to put in evidence ,how the advancing in scientific reasoning process can determine changes on the effective development of knowledge economy, favouring in a broader context, cultural and social change needs. In particular a strategic interactive networking action for sharing innovative knowledge in “Science and Art” , will be considered crucial on the basis of the emergence of the conceptualization of the "self- organization of matter and energy".
Goal : rethinking explanatory patterns in self-organization of natural changes, e.g. without any intervention of external agents, into co-evolutionary dynamics or during mutually compatible processes of information energy communication. A better understanding on "Self-organization" will be especially focused on Nano- and Bio-technology and Ecosystems interactions, particularly focused on the studies of storm-glass and clock reactions and Krebs-cycle.
Main Topics of the meeting :
I) Cosmic cycles, Information and Self Organization
II) Quantum-Biophysical Aspects of Self-Organization
III) Entanglement and Energy Conversion in Self Organization Phenomena
IV) Art-simulation Aspects of Self Organization.
CALL FOR PAPERS AND ADHESIONS - Participation is Free - (Firenze- 2008/03/14 )
Please send an e-mail to :Paolo Manzelli ; ; Phone :+39/055/4573135
or to: Massimo Pregnolato maxp@ibiocat.eu
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Posted by: paolo manzelli | June 03, 2008 at 01:27 AM