From: PKat (pkat@home.com)
Date: Tue Sep 01 1998 - 06:19:39 MDT
Bernard Hughes wrote:
> Hara Ra wrote:
>
> > I agree that it is ambitious. However, building the components needed to
> > pickup and join Lego blocks should be feasible with a limited budget. I
> > have no objection to placing something on the blocks to identify their
> > types, such as the barcodes you suggest. The idea is a low cost approach
> > which is affordable for amateur nanotechnolgists. And, of course, to
> > identify the higher level problems which as yet remain undiscovered.
> >
>
> I think a critical issue with a macro assembler is positioning. Once you can
> position components accurately and verify that they are there, you can also
> position work tools and build the components. I don't think lego blocks give you
> a lot of inherent clues about their position. Still, I agree availability is a
> big plus. A lot depends on the functionality of the active components they
> provide.
>
> I've been thinking about macro-assemblers for a long time. The model I have
> been thinking about I call the Universal Fabricator Replicator (UFR), on the
> principle that any engineering project needs an obscure acronym :-). It useful
> feature is that it can disassemble anything it builds. Building one off things
> out of generalized robust components seems likely to be more expensive than
> using bulk technology. But when you can download a new design for you living
> room, and simply disassemble the old one to make the new, you are into a whole
> new ball game. Like nanotech, you drop much of the bulk transport and central
> manufacturing. Even with nanotech, it may be energetically cheaper to assemble
> large objects from largish (millimeter?) components.
>
> Bernard
Hi. I'm very new here. I wondered if it would correct etiquette to ask for any
more information anyone has on CNTs and perhaps the constuction of them. I'm
looking to expand a previous scholarship essay. In that strange limbo between rich
and poor, knowlegable and brilliant, deserving and...maybe not, it's quite a game to
get to college. Actually, if anyone has any info that might help with that little
problem as well, it'd be much appreciated.
One hopeful bard who wishes to become a professor of the sciences...
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.5 : Fri Nov 01 2002 - 14:49:39 MST