Virtually every previous technological improvement has been accomplished by making things smaller and more precise. But as the scales at which we work get smaller and smaller, we approach limits imposed by physics. The smallest unit of matter we can build with is the atom, or combinations of atoms known as molecules. The earthshaking insight of nanotechnology is that, when we reach this scale, we can reverse direction and begin building from the bottom up, making products by placing individual atoms and molecules exactly where we want them.
Nanotechnology has several meanings and encompasses many fields. The U.S. National Science Foundation defines it as: "Research and technology development in the length scale of approximately 1 to 100 nanometers." By this loose definition, some types of nanotechnology exist already, producing specialized materials and components including powders, films, and chemicals. Not spectacular, perhaps, but attractive to investors because many products will be improved significantly.
Progress in this basic area will
enable the more transformative kind of nanotechnology,
known as
molecular
manufacturing -- combining chemistry and
fabrication to produce precise machines and
manufacturing systems at the nanometer scale. This is
the most
promising,
threatening,
and
controversial
aspect of nanotechnology.
A
recent report
prepared for NATO said, "Theoretical and computational
models indicate that molecular manufacturing systems are
possiblethat they do not violate existing physical
laws. These models also give us a feel for what a
molecular manufacturing system might look like. Today,
scientists are devising numerous tools and techniques
that will be needed to transform nanotechnology from
computer models into reality. While most remain in the
realm of theory, there appears to be no fundamental
barrier to their development."
The fundamental ideas for
molecular manufacturing were introduced more than 40
years ago in a famous talk titled "Theres
Plenty of Room at the Bottom". In this
speech, Nobel prize-winning physicist Richard Feynman
said, "The principles of physics, as far as I can see,
do not speak against the possibility of maneuvering
things atom by atom."
Feynman also said, "I want to
build a billion tiny factories, models of each other,
which are manufacturing simultaneously." Thats exactly
the way todays leading theorists plan to build things
from the bottom up -- by using billions of identical
tiny machines, all operating in parallel under external
computer control. Its a startlingly original concept
called a
nanofactory,
and it seems to be coming closer to reality.
Until recently, it has been
assumed that although molecular manufacturing will be
developed eventually, the extreme technical challenges
place it far in the future, perhaps 30 to 50 years away.
Now, however,
some analyses
of technical feasibility conclude that a time frame of
2010 to 2015 is a plausible estimate for the development
of nanofactories.
As todays nanotechnology steadily
advances to the point that large-scale manufacturing
becomes possible with atomic precision and virtually no
waste -- then things will rapidly change. Working
directly with atoms, even a small portable manufacturing
system could contain the equipment to duplicate itself
on command as cheaply as building any other product.
This leads to exponential dispersion of customized
manufacturing capability.
Portable, programmable manufacturing
systems -- nanofactories -- will revolutionize commerce
and industry, and by extension, all of society, but
probably not without negative effects. There are both
benefits and dangers at hand, and as we build bridges to
progress, we must also build
bridges to safety.
Mike Treder
Mike Treder is a fellow of the IEET, and the Executive Director of the non-profit
Center for Responsible Nanotechnology, an organization working to raise awareness of the issues presented by advanced nanotechnology.
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