From: Robert J. Bradbury (bradbury@aeiveos.com)
Date: Sat Aug 17 2002 - 18:19:01 MDT
Somebody wrote:
> We should invent NanoToys(TM) that have different colors for different
> atoms and actually connect only as real atoms would. If it were
> structured right, only valid molecules could be built. Even if we
> couldn't build physical parts to do this, we could certainly have a
> cheap chip inside each one to accept or reject pieces as they were
> plugged in, and to adjust angles and distances.
These already exist. Many organic chemistry courses at the college
level recomend you go out and buy a molecular modeling kit. I've
got a draw full of the parts upstairs. Doing a Google on "molecular
models" and kits or balls and sticks should probably pull up some
sites that sell them (if not get back to me and I'll go dig around
in my bookmark file).
The kits aren't quite as effective as you would like them for
"real" nanotech models. They only have 2 connector (bond) types,
a straight one with a standard distance for "normal" bonds and
a "flexible" one with a standard distance for "strained" bonds.
In reality for nanotech models you would like to be able to
set the bond lengths and angles to reflect the lowest energy
state of the molecule. That would require some pretty fancy
machinery inside the balls to "dial" a bond angle, though
you could probably set the bond length with a simple screw
mechanism. The kits are already pretty expensive presumably
due to the low volume. If they became a Christmas Toy the
cost would probably come down quite a bit.
I think there is an opportunity here for a neat commercial
with a cute kid running in to Mom and Dad smiling and going
"Look, Look, I just built a Fine Motion Controller!".
Robert
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