| Ralph Merkle, a nanotechnology pioneer has discussed the future of the field of nanotechnology on a number of occasions. According to Merkle, the laws of physics should allow us to arrange things molecule by molecule and even atom by atom, and at some point it will be inevitable that we would develop a technology that would let us do this. |
The central objective of molecular manufacturing, or molecular nanotechnology is the design, modeling, and manufacture of systems that can inexpensively fabricate most products that can be specified in molecular detail.
According to Merkle, the laws of physics should allow us to arrange things molecule by molecule and even atom by atom, and at some point it will be inevitable that we would develop a technology that would let us do this.
Merkle detailed his theories on nanotechnology in the book, Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines, co-written by Robert Frietas.
According to Merkle, "Nanotechnology will let us build computers that are incredibly powerful. We'll have more power in the volume of a sugar cube than exists in the entire world today."
This would include, for example, molecular logic elements connected in complex patterns to form molecular computers, molecular robotic arms or Stewart platforms (e.g., positional devices) able to position individual atoms or clusters of atoms under programmatic control (useful if we wish too make molecular computers and other molecular manufacturing systems), and a wide range of other molecular devices.
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| Image Source: Neil Champness |
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A central concept for achieving low cost in molecular manufacturing is that of massive parallelism, either by self replicating manufacturing systems or convergent assembly. Such systems are today theoretical, but should revolutionize 21st century manufacturing.
Merkle says, "As in any technological revolution, there will be winners and losers. On balance, everyone will come out ahead, although there will be particular companies that will not be able to cope with a new environment."
Merkle says, "As in any technological revolution, there will be winners and losers. On balance, everyone will come out ahead, although there will be particular companies that will not be able to cope with a new environment."
The marginal manufacturing costs for such systems should be quite small, although initial R&D costs might be quite high. Merkle served for several years as an executive editor of the journal Nanotechnology. He chaired both the Fourth and Fifth Foresight Conferences on Molecular Nanotechnology; and won the 1998 Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology for theory. Freitas and Merkle have formed the Nanofactory Collaboration. He also has an essay on uploading published in the newly-released Transhumanist Reader.
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