Nanotech Products Hitting the Market 155
stdin writes "Saw this on SFGate. Nanotech's first fruits are nearing the consumer market." Not little machines, yet, but a variety of products using very small components.
It's a naive, domestic operating system without any breeding, but I think you'll be amused by its presumption.
No Nano! (Score:1, Interesting)
Plug these numbers in and you'll find that even if the propellant consists of a single atom the forward velocity of the nanobot will be somewhere in the region of 1/100th of the speed of light. That may not sound like much, but even 1/1000 * 3e8 m/s = 3e5 m/s = 300 km/s = 1080000 km/h!
Re:No Nano! (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:No Nano! (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:No Nano! (Score:1, Funny)
Re:No Nano! (Score:1)
And legs... legs make a bloody long time to get from point A to point B, and rely on *friction* to create leverage for motion. Friction is only a few steps away from outright chemical interaction, and that's not going to go over well on delicate work surfaces.
For truly nano-scale devices, moving relatively long distances will require the use of light, probably from LEDs or sufficiently long-wavelength LASERs. These have such additional advantages of fast response, and not spewing their exhaust all over your work area.
Re:No Nano! (Score:3, Funny)
Guess I should mention a crazy little thing call sarchasm now...
Nanobots will use those devices anyone who has looked at bacteria has seen. Little spinning appendages, or little waving appendages, or little oscillating appendages, or possibly a gas turbine. Ha ha only serious.
Re:No Nano! (Score:2)
Sarchasm: (n) The gap between reality and the information implied.
Re:No Nano! (Score:2, Interesting)
Your calculations make no sense. Where did you get 2v/d from? How did the atomic radius enter into the picture at all?
That calculation clearly involves a -lot- of assumptions, most of which I doubt you know/remember, and are not applicable to the situation you describe.
If I have a machine with 100 atoms, and propel it by ejecting a single atom at velocity V, the machine will be moving at ~V/100 in the opposite direction.
This is ignoring the numerous other methods for propelling an object, without ejecting a propellant. Various forms of electromagnetic fields do a damn good job.
don't those laws.. (Score:1)
Re:No Nano! (Score:2)
Troll Alert (Score:2)
Re:No Nano! (Score:1)
Plug these numbers in
What numbers? You haven't given any numbers.
and you'll find that even if the propellant consists of a single atom the forward velocity of the nanobot will be somewhere in the region of 1/100th of the speed of light. That may not sound like much, but even 1/1000 * 3e8 m/s = 3e5 m/s = 300 km/s = 1080000 km/h!
You haven't given us the mass of the nanobot, the mass of the atom (they're not all the same, you know), or the exhaust velocity of the atom. Your calculations are without basis.
Dumbass.
Re:No Nano! (Score:1)
Re:No Nano! (Score:1)
As far as how to propell a nano-machine... Well, it would greatly depend on what the machine were to be used for. For computers "nano" simply reffers to the scale on which things are being implemented (usually the logic gates). Smaller gates are faster, and you can put more on a chip, meaning there is a potential for better devices.
I don't know much about propelling machines, but I'm guessing that in most cases, it wouldn't really be nessecary. If the machines were to be used in constructing something else, or in the body, they could most likely simply "drift". As far as powering them, something like an electric current, or light would be reasonable. Keep in mind the scale that you're working with, and even using newtons laws you should get more reasonable numbers.
Re:OK people, slow down! (Score:2)
Oh boy.. over engineered sunscreen... what's next? nano-tech toilet paper? or tub cleaner that really has scrubbing bubbles?
Re:OK people, slow down! (Score:2)
OK people, Speed Up! (Score:1)
I expect that if the nanotech which has been described is accomplished, a sunscreen which applies itself is the obvious overengineered sunscreen.
And as aluminum is a very common element, I wouldn't be surprised at a fad of silver-coated beachgoers. Quickly followed by Halloween costumes that make you resemble the liquid Terminator...
Re:OK people, slow down! (Score:1)
Re:OK people, slow down! (Score:2)
Nanotech hair dye? (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Nanotech hair dye? (Score:1)
The hair dye advancements can come later.
Re:Nanotech hair dye? (Score:1)
Well, that's a pretty radical application.
Now that would be a great party trick!
Re:Nano-coolness (Score:1, Funny)
Oh they're there, you just can't see them...
ahh so they are doing it with fruit! (Score:5, Funny)
Wait don't eat that apple, that's my Web Server!!!
Re:LINUX HEADS WILL FLAME YOU FOR USING APPLE SERV (Score:1)
I would have given it a "funny" at least.
Interesting Quote (Score:2, Funny)
"We need to see a technology that can lead to real products," explained Zwi Vromen, whose Israel-based Millennium Materials Fund has made 19 nanotechnology investments to date."
So now, not only do we have nanotechnological fruits, but we have nanotechnological fruits that shall battle for the Holy Land inside my colon! Jihad!
Re:Interesting Quote (Score:1)
Dye for your country (Score:1)
define nanotech! (Score:3, Informative)
Re:define nanotech! (Score:2)
these are things that are on the scale of nanometers.
Re:define nanotech! (Score:1)
Re:define nanotech! (Score:1)
A few Words by "Ralph Merkle" (Score:4, Informative)
In the future, nanotechnology will let us take off the boxing gloves. We'll be able to snap together the fundamental building blocks of nature easily, inexpensively and in almost any arrangement that we desire. This will be essential if we are to continue the revolution in computer hardware beyond about the next decade, and will also let us fabricate an entire new generation of products that are cleaner, stronger, lighter, and more precise.
It's worth pointing out that the word "nanotechnology" has become very popular and is used to describe many types of research where the characteristic dimensions are less than about 1,000 nanometers. For example, continued improvements in lithography have resulted in line widths that are less than one micron: this work is often called "nanotechnology." Sub-micron lithography is clearly very valuable (ask anyone who uses a computer!) but it is equally clear that lithography will not let us build semiconductor devices in which individual dopant atoms are located at specific lattice sites. Many of the exponentially improving trends in computer hardware capability have remained steady for the last 50 years. There is fairly widespread confidence that these trends are likely to continue for at least another ten years, but then lithography starts to reach its fundamental limits.
If we are to continue these trends we will have to develop a new "post-lithographic" manufacturing technology which will let us inexpensively build computer systems with mole quantities of logic elements that are molecular in both size and precision and are interconnected in complex and highly idiosyncratic patterns. Nanotechnology will let us do this.
When it's unclear from the context whether we're using the specific definition of "nanotechnology" (given here) or the broader and more inclusive definition (often used in the literature), we'll use the terms "molecular nanotechnology" or "molecular manufacturing."
Whatever we call it, it should let us
Get essentially every atom in the right place. Make almost any structure consistent with the laws of physics and chemistry that we can specify in atomic detail. Have manufacturing costs not greatly exceeding the cost of the required raw materials and energy. There are two more concepts commonly associated with nanotechnology: Positional assembly. Self replication. Clearly, we would be happy with any method that simultaneously achieved the first three objectives. However, this seems difficult without using some form of positional assembly (to get the right molecular parts in the right places) and some form of self replication (to keep the costs down).
The need for positional assembly implies an interest in molecular robotics, e.g., robotic devices that are molecular both in their size and precision. These molecular scale positional devices are likely to resemble very small versions of their everyday macroscopic counterparts. Positional assembly is frequently used in normal macroscopic manufacturing today, and provides tremendous advantages. Imagine trying to build a bicycle with both hands tied behind your back! The idea of manipulating and positioning individual atoms and molecules is still new and takes some getting used to. However, as Feynman said in a classic talk in 1959: "The principles of physics, as far as I can see, do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering things atom by atom." We need to apply at the molecular scale the concept that has demonstrated its effectiveness at the macroscopic scale: making parts go where we want by putting them where we want!
The requirement for low cost creates an interest in self replicating manufacturing systems, studied by von Neumann in the 1940's. These systems are able both to make copies of themselves and to manufacture useful products. If we can design and build one such system the manufacturing costs for more such systems and the products they make (assuming they can make copies of themselves in some reasonably inexpensive environment) will be very low.
Which was... (Score:2, Informative)
Re:A few Words by "Ralph Merkle" (Score:2)
> Make almost any structure consistent with the laws
> of physics and chemistry that we can specify in
> atomic detail. Have manufacturing costs not
> greatly exceeding the cost of the required raw
> materials and energy. There are two more concepts
> commonly associated with nanotechnology:
> Positional assembly. Self replication. Clearly, we
> would be happy with any method that simultaneously
> achieved the first three objectives.
You have just described life. Rather than reinventing the wheel, why not improve existing life processes.
Life, reinventing wheels (Score:2)
Ralph's agenda is long term. We'll get there eventually, but before we do, we'll spend a lot of time puttering around with simple bacteria. Tom Knight is already starting that effort, which he calls microbial engineering [mit.edu]. This is very cool, commendable work.
But there are limitations. You can make cells do logic operations, but they do them very slowly. Each cell has a very limited number of usable state variables. As long as we are starting with life, we are stuck with the limitations of cells. Cells can easily be programmed to make proteins, which don't have very desirable material properties, but to make more interesting stuff like tooth enamel or spider silk you need much more cleverness.
What's nice about cells is that they are inexpensive replicators that work today. What's bad about them is that humans never got a vote on the basic design, simplicity was never a design goal, programming them is hard, and the range of things they can be programmed to do is limited.
Ultimately we want a human-designed replicator that comes with a manual, is easy to program, and can do lots of different things.
They better hurry up (Score:1)
I wonder... (Score:3, Insightful)
contraceptive devices
This is not meant to be funny... this is a dept. seriously lacking in safe products.
Re:I wonder... (Score:2)
Hmm. Wouldn't work. At least not if you're pretty well hung.
Re:I wonder... (Score:1)
I don't know if I'm quite ready to let millions of little bugs loose on my privates..
Well, maybe I am, but not as a contraceptive device.. unless you mean the preventative form of contraceptive.
Re:I wonder... (Score:2)
Re:I wonder... (Score:1)
Nano-Movies (Score:1, Offtopic)
Actually, I think Innerspace [rottentomatoes.com] was better (you know, the one with Meg Ryan, Dennis Quaid, and Martin Short?).
The new buzzword (Score:3, Interesting)
Re:The new buzzword (Score:2, Funny)
Business plan nFruit.com (Score:2)
Our seed funding was provided by the US goverment through a seed bill - the "US anti-terrorist new business development fund" which provides funds to new companies who develop products that can aid in any form with the fighting of terrorist in this post 9-11 economy. Our nano fruit growing technology is used in our "Fruit for the Troops" program to feed troops and refugees displaced by the terrorists in the US and abroad.
We are looking to raise 15 million in capital by Q2.
Let the IPO's begin anew! (Score:1)
Re:The new buzzword (Score:1)
Increase your penis size dramatically with the new...er... nano-penis... ??
Re:The new buzzword (Score:1, Funny)
I can only satisfy one person a day
And with a nano-penis, you'll be lucky if you can satisfy anyone in a day!
Re:The new buzzword (Score:2)
We're the nanodot in
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upcoming products (Score:1, Redundant)
nanotech contact lenses
nanotech moisturizer
nanotech toupees
Re:upcoming products (Score:2)
Re:upcoming products (Score:1)
technologically boring appearances of cool stuff (Score:5, Insightful)
I've heard increasingly frequent use of nanoscale devices in the Bio arena and for medical purposes, but far from the "submarine" concept. One of the more interesting ones was in a Scientific American or Science News article recently (can't find the article) talking about a small square chip that makes thorough and useful chemical tests doable in one step instead of hundreds of seperate ones. Imaging the chip using a basic camera provides a detailed readout on the exposure of many thousands of tests. Another interesting application involves carbon nanotubes, a much touted revolution in circuit building and such.
It seems that many people (geeks included) have been spouting the broader, long term vision of building complex nano machines that invade our bodies or self replicate, it's refreshing to hear a realistic perspective on nano technology.
Although I do admittedly get tired of the constantly pro-tech mindset that occurs in these articles, how about someone mentioning the detriments of these technologies occasionally? (grey goo theory anyone)
Replication (Score:1)
Uh Oh.
Nano nano! (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Nano nano! (Score:2)
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I don't get it. (Score:3, Interesting)
I don't see how this could be. It seems that if you want to approach the kind of nanotech described in Stepehenson's The Diamond Age you would probably work with tiny machines and assembly techniques and gradually push the size envelope downwards - which is how it happened with silicon. Or work with subtractive etching techniques that could remove material to leave behind movable parts. Merely grinding up tiny nondescript particles - in other words soot or dust - doesn't seem like a step on this road at all.
Of course my understanding of nanotechnology is firmly grounded in science fiction.
Re:I don't get it. (Score:2)
The only type of nanotechnology that has worked... (Score:1)
Are there other optima based on different materials and/or manufacturing and design techniques? These questions are critical to the future of nanotech. As yet, no one has the answer.
Nonotech gallery (Score:2, Informative)
Nasa has an interseting nanotechnology gallery [nasa.gov] With some pics and videos of the technology in action
Possible Application (Score:2)
This is not the first (Score:2)
Wesley Crusher (Score:1)
Yeah, that's about as much as I know about nano-technology - and this article didn't really help.
Remember when... (Score:1)
Seven of Nine (Score:1)
My favorite quote... (Score:3, Funny)
I didn't know atoms had shoulders. About how many Libraries of Congress can that hold?
7 of 9 (Score:1)
In related entertainment news... (Score:1)
Oh, the rich irony... (Score:1)
LOL (Score:1)
Geek: Alright baby, let me put on my nano-condom.
Hot girl: Your what?!! Oh my GOD that's pathetic!
Super sunscreen? (Score:2, Insightful)
Perpetual phone calls (Score:3, Funny)
Great! Now we can have mobile phones that recharge themselves.
Macka
projection TVs have million moving mirrors (Score:2)
This is overhyped bullshit (Score:1)
Harddisk drive heads
Microprocessors
DNA arrays
Genetically engineered organisms
LCD screens
Engineering of better chemical catalysts
Arrays of micro-mirror for projection displays
Integrated optical switches
Ink jet printer heads
et cetera
intels 20 ghz cpu (Score:1)
Useless (Score:1)
But I need to redo the hair when the roots start showing, not when the colour fades...
DLP (Score:1)
I always considered the DLP chips used in video projectors (that have millions of pivoting mirrors on a silicon chip) to be an application of nanotech
Is there something about DLP that disqualifies it?
nano nano (Score:1)
Re:Help (Score:1, Funny)