Non-evolvable indirectly replicating nanorobots with self-assembling parts

This paper summarizes work on a kinematic cellular automata (KCA) approach to nanoscale replicating robots. Initially funded by NIAC at General Dynamics, the findings include the following: (i) A precise formulation of the essential problem of machine replication can be described as follows: in a well-defined environment, a KCA indirectly replicating system (IRS) must assemble basic parts into symmetrical facets of modular dynamic cells configured into a hierarchy of subsystems: transporter, connector, and controller. (ii) A practical IRS needs a specific hierarchy that can be broken down in terms of structure, functionality, and control mechanisms, (iii) KCA offers a level of indirection that lowers the complexity (to less than that of a Pentium 4). (iv) Replication at a molecular level may improve cost and complexity by more than seven magnitudes. The results of modeling different aspects of the KCA IRS are also presented.