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NanoroboticsEE453 Project Report submitted by

Michael Wong michaelwong@gmail.com, Fall 2008

IntroductionAs science and engineering evolve over time we, as a human race, begin to see

that the separation between science fiction and science dwindles into an unclear, barely noticeable barrier. It is believed by many that science fiction can no longer be classified as an improbable world because technology allows us to create what once was thought to be fantasy. An example of this leap from dreams to reality is the leap humanity took from Frankenstein to Dolly. Science took a monster from Mary Shelley’s imagination and engineered an animal capable of everything a naturally bred sheep can do.

To continue this process of almost unimaginable feats, humanity now has its sights set on controlling outcomes on the sub-molecular level. Creating nanobots, nanoids, nanites, or nanonites to detect early stages of cancer prior to any detection of typical symptoms is only the beginning stages of these possibilities [1]. Further development can lead our imagination to the creation of nano-scaled devices that can easily detect radiation without having to endanger human lives. Furthermore, if science and engineering prove to be able to perfectly control nanorobotics than perhaps all humans will one day exist with nanobots existing within.

Prior to explaining the possibilities and the direction of this technology we must first understand what nanotechnology is and the difficulty that arises in this field. First off, nanotechnology is described as the “field that deals with the controlled manipulation of objects with nanometer-scale dimensions” [2]. To put things into perspective an atom is about an Angstrom in diameter (1x10-10m) while the components of a nanobot only have diameters of 1x10-9m.

Nanometer in Perspective

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Project DescriptionThe initial application of nanobots will most definitely arise in the medical

technology area. Testing has already begun to verify that cancerous cells can be identified and penetrated by these nanoscopic devices. By analyzing the chemical difference between a regular cell and cancerous cells engineers can program nanobots to sample various cells within a particular region of a human body and “attack” in tens-of-thousands of numbers. It is believed that sensors and signals will be attached to individual devices to help them communicate amongst themselves in order to eliminate the need for most human interaction [3].

Nanobots Infecting Cancerous Cells

Another application of the nanobots in the medical field is treatment for diabetes. This method is not targeting the diabetes source itself but rather creating innovative ways for diabetics to self-medicate. Currently, it is a hassle to have to carry around a packet of medical items and have to constantly check that sugar levels are within normal range. The idea behind using nanobots in this field is to self inject one time and have the nanobots regulate when the insulin should be administered and in proper quantities [4]. This problem was first issued to Tejal Desai a few years ago and is now seeing successful cases in laboratory rats. The only reason that these trials are so successful is because the holes in the nano-sized, insulating carrying capsule are so small that biological agents are incapable of detecting the source.

Insulin Administrating Agents

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A much further scope that nanobots have in the medical field is the assistance in sustaining individual human life. Such a concept has yet to be fully explained and widely accepted. The concept here is to have biologically undetectable nanorobots flowing in our blood stream analyzing and repairing any and all defects. As shown in the picture below the nanobots are performing the tasks that white blood cells normally perform by themselves, which alleviates the need to work so hard and hopefully minimize bodily stress. This has the potential to drastically increase the length of the average human life and even more hopeful—eliminate all birth defects such as autism, Down syndrome, and even cerebral palsy [5]. Of course this more of a “science fiction” but in time can be turned into a reality.

Nanorobots Assisting White Blood Cells

Although the initial use for the first nanobots will arise in the medical field there are a vast potential for their use in many more areas. One area that may seem very unfit to hold the future of nanobots, but very likely, is the environmental analysis sector. Here it is believed that nanorobots can and will be able to “float” around certain areas that are typically in question, such as nuclear waste locations, and continuously gather information regarding hazardous levels [6]. An addition to examining potential land hazards nanobots will be able to perform human tasks in radiation infested situations. They will act as billions of billions of continuously working soldiers that interact amongst one another to maintain toxins and radiation.

Nanorobots as Sensors in a Radiation Field

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This would be beneficial to humans not only because we would no longer have to deal with unsafe working conditions but because the nanobots will be a never-resting production team. This idea stems on the fact that scientist and engineers are attempting to create nanobots that are capable of self-replication. There is a lot of skepticism towards this direction of nanobots because others believe that they might become uncontrollable and essentially overrun the entire planet. Once again, this all sounds like science fiction but the technology is being created and perhaps more caution should be taken when designing these nanobots [7].

Now, the most incomprehensible idea that arises from the abilities that these nanobots will have is the notion that they will be able to dissect portions of molecules and rearrange them into a desired molecule. What this implies is that nanorobots will, in theory, one day be able to create any object by altering their surroundings. Televisions, refrigerators, airplanes will all be constructed in a matter of hours or days without any human labor and at a very low cost. This would, in theory, drastically reduce the costs of almost everything we own. Of course, there is a down side to this—since we live in a capitalist society we will have to adapt to the change in prices much more than a socialist or communist society [7].

However, a more positive notion is that nanorobots will hopefully be able to construct animate objects such as plants and possibly human body parts. Since these robots will, in theory, never cease to exist and will continuously perform assigned tasks this of course implies that poverty and hunger could be eradicated and medical bills will no longer have such a financial burden on any victim. Farming will no longer be required and delivery will essentially be eradicated. It is possible for every person to have everything that everyone else has. The reality is; if the concept of manipulation of molecules in order to create a desired object is achieved…the world will no longer be the viewed as we do so today.

Futuristic Nanorobot

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References

1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanorobotics2 http://www-lmr.usc.edu/~lmr/publications/nanorobotics/3 http://nanobot.blogspot.com/2004/12/cancer-detection-within-spitting.html4 http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/678521/revolutionizing_diabetes_treatment.html5 http://www.nanobot.info/6 http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci514355,00.html7 http://www.def-logic.com/articles/nanomachines.html