Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!csd4.csd.uwm.edu!cs.utexas.edu!rutgers!aramis.rutgers.edu!athos.rutgers.edu!nanotech From: Joseph.Bates@a.gp.cs.cmu.edu Newsgroups: sci.nanotech Subject: Re: Simple nanomachines Message-ID: Date: 31 Aug 89 21:37:12 GMT Sender: nanotech@athos.rutgers.edu Lines: 25 Approved: nanotech@aramis.rutgers.edu I agree with John Nagle that it is very interesting to look at the design and construction of simple nanomachines. It would be great to see sample solutions of some of the interesting problems, such as power distribution and heat dissipation. I wonder, though, if the particular example of a smart etchant is really much simpler than an assembler. Are there "cute mechanical tricks" that let us build these special purpose robots, or do the functions required of the etchant mean that it is best built with general purpose processors and general purpose atomic manipulators? The etchant seems like a rather flexible automaton. How about just a reversible glue that can be turned on or off by some sort of signal applied at its periphery? It seems to me that this would involve a small memory, communications paths, and grasping/ungrasping ability at each nanomachine. If it were to be able to cycle for long periods then power might be a problem, too. Generalizations could include synthetic muscle, where the global control pattern of grasp/pull/ungrasp becomes more complex. I wonder what level of design automation is needed to attack this problem? Are we there yet? Do we need much better tools? Joe Bates