In theory, nano-machines can make all objects.
Of course, it is different from theory to practical application, but nano-mechanical experts have shown that it is feasible to realize the application of nanotechnology. With the help of scanning tunneling microscope, nano-mechanical experts have been able to arrange independent atoms into structures that have never existed in nature. In addition, nano-mechanical experts have designed tiny gears and motors composed of only a few molecules. Don't confuse these gears and motors with those tiny gears and motors made of millions of molecules and built by traditional technology. Compared with machines made in the future, these machines are too big.
Within 25 years, nanotechnology scientists expect to realize these ideas in the science showroom and create real nano-machines. These nano-machines have tiny "fingers" and can skillfully handle various molecules; There is a micro "computer" to direct how the "fingers" operate. Fingers can be made of carbon nanotubes. Its strength is 100 times that of steel, and its fineness is 1/50000 of that of hair. A "computer" may be made of carbon nanotubes, which can be used as both transistors and wires connecting transistors. A "computer" may also be made of DNA, and nano-robots equipped with appropriate software and smart enough can build any substance.
Nano-robots must use a large number of nano-machines to perform any task, including self-replication. There may be millions of nanobots in the blood; Each toxic waste yard may need trillions of nano-robots, and 654.38 billion nano-robots may be mobilized to work at the same time to make a car. However, no production line can produce such a large number of nano-robots.
However, nano-machines in the eyes of nano-scientists can do this. The nano-robot they designed can do two things: perform the main task and make their own perfect replica. If the first nano-robot can make two copies, and each of these two copies can make its own two copies, then trillions of nano-robots can be obtained soon.
But what happens if nanobots forget to stop copying? Without some built-in stop signals, nano-robots forget to stop copying, and the possible consequences of this disaster will be incalculable. Nano-robots replicate rapidly in human body, which can cover normal tissues faster than cancer spread; A crazy food-making robot can turn the whole biosphere of the earth into a giant cheese.
Nanotechnologists have not avoided the danger, but they believe they can control the disaster. One way is to design a software program that allows nanobots to self-destruct after several generations of replication. Another method is to design a robot that can only replicate under certain conditions, for example, the robot can only replicate when high concentrations of toxic chemicals appear, or in a narrow temperature and humidity range.
Just like the spread of computer viruses, all these efforts can't stop those who are up to no good from deliberately releasing some nano-robots as harmful weapons. In fact, some critics point out that the possible dangers of nanotechnology outweigh its benefits. However, these benefits alone are too attractive, and nanotechnology will surely surpass computers and gene drugs and become the technological development direction in the new century. The world may need a nanotechnology immune system, in which nano-robot police constantly fight against those malicious robots in the micro-world. People in China can also play with atoms like chess pieces. The reporter learned from China Academy of Sciences that a prototype robot system that can run on the nanometer scale was successfully developed by Shenyang Institute of Automation, China Academy of Sciences, and passed the acceptance of the national "863" intelligent robot expert group in the field of automation. In a demonstration, the researchers of Shenyang Institute of Automation manipulated the "nano-micromanipulator" and clearly carved three English letters "SIA" (abbreviation of Shenyang Institute of Automation) on a silicon substrate with an area of 1×2 micron. Another demonstration shows that on a 5×5 micron silicon substrate, the operator accurately moves a carbon nanotube with a length of 4 microns and a thickness of 100 nm into a groove.
Nano-micromanipulator lettering on the substrate of 10× 10 micron.
The test shows that in the characterization operation, the repeated positioning error of the nano-micromanipulator in the display area with a width of 5 12 pixels is less than 5 pixels, and the accuracy is greater than 1%. In the operation of moving carbon nanotubes, the repeated positioning accuracy reaches 30 nanometers; However, in the location test based on road signs, the location error is less than 4 nm. Experts explained that 1 nanometer is 10-9 meters, which is approximately equal to the length of 10 argon atoms juxtaposed in a straight line. Operation on the nanometer scale, known as "nano-micromanipulation", is an important content of nanotechnology. Its purpose is to move, shape, depict and assemble nano-materials on the nano-scale according to people's wishes. Nano-micromanipulation began in the 1980s. 1989, I-B-M scientists used scanning tunneling microscope (STM) to operate 35 xenon atoms to spell the letter I-B-M on the surface of nickel metal, which became a sensational news and pioneered nano-micromanipulation. Since then, nano-manipulation technology, as an important strategic development direction, has attracted many countries to study it. According to the researchers of this project, this robot system has made many breakthroughs and innovations in system modeling methods, three-dimensional nano-observation acquisition and perception, and nano-scale error analysis and compensation, all of which have reached the world advanced level. According to reports, this nano-micromanipulator can be widely used in nano-scientific experimental research, biological engineering and medical experimental research, micro-nano scientific research and teaching and other fields. For example, in the field of biological research, the cutting operation of cell chromosomes can be completed by using nano-micromanipulators; Biochemical detection and pathological and physiological tests can also be carried out at DNA or molecular level. In addition, this kind of robot also has a good application prospect in the assembly and processing of nano-devices in the integrated circuit industry, such as manipulating nano-particles, assembling micro/nano-electronic devices and even complex nano-circuits. This means that in the future, computers and home appliances made of nano-circuits can be "as small as they want" and even "stuffed into their teeth"; In the future, micro-robots made by nano-manipulation technology can also drill into the human body to dredge blood vessels for patients, or complete tasks that people can't do by themselves in the microscopic world invisible to the naked eye. In the American sci-fi blockbuster Magic Sail, scientists inject smaller people and spaceships into the human body, so that these smaller "visitors" can directly watch the organization and operation of various organs of the human body. However, in reality, according to the principle of molecular pathology, scientists have developed a variety of nano-robots that can enter the human body and are expected to be used to maintain human health.
At present, it is still in the experimental stage, ranging from a few millimeters long to a few microns in diameter; But what is certain is that nano-robots will bring a medical revolution in the next few years.
Many engineers, scientists and doctors believe that medical nano-robots have unlimited potential-most likely including: treating atherosclerosis, resisting cancer, removing blood clots, cleaning wounds, helping blood coagulation, removing parasites, treating gout, crushing kidney calculi, artificial insemination and activating cell energy, so that people can not only stay healthy, but also prolong their life.