Contents

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 1 Nanorobotics theory

 2 Approaches

o 2.1 Biochip

o 2.2 Nubots

o 2.3 Positional nanoassembly

o 2.4 Bacteria based

o 2.5 Open technology

o 2.6 Nanorobot Race

 3 Potential applications

o 3.1 Nanomedicine
NANOROBOTICS
Abstract

Nanorobotic is the emerging technology field of creating machines or robots whose

components are at or close to the microscopic scale of nanometer (10−9 meters). More specifically,
nanorobotics refers to the nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building
nanorobots , with devices ranging in size from 0.1-10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale or
molecular components. The nanobots, nanoids, nanites, nanomachines or nanomites have also
been used to describe these devices currently under research and development.

Nano-robots are controllable machines at the nano (10^9) meter or molecular scale that are
composed of nano-scale components. With the modern scientific capabilities, it has become
possible to attempt the creation of nanorobotic devices and interface them with the macro
world for control. There are countless such machines that exist in nature and there is an
opportunity to build more of them bymimicking nature. There are many applications for
nanorobotic systems and its biggest impact would be in the area of medicine.
Nanomachines are largely in the research-and-development phase,[8] but some primitive molecular
machines have been tested. An example is a sensor having a switch approximately 1.5 nanometers
across, capable of counting specific molecules in a chemical sample. The first useful applications of
nanomachines might be in medical technology,[9] which could be used to identify and destroy cancer
cells.[10] Another potential application is the detection of toxic chemicals, and the measurement of their
concentrations, in the environment. Recently, Rice University has demonstrated a single-molecule
car developed by a chemical process and including buckyballs for wheels. It is actuated by controlling
the environmental temperature and by positioning a scanning tunneling microscope tip.

Another definition is a robot that allows precision interactions with nanoscale objects, or can
manipulate with nanoscale resolution. Such devices are more related to Microscopy or Scanning
probe microscopy, instead of the description of nanorobots as molecular machine. Following the
microscopy definition even a large apparatus such as an atomic force microscope can be considered
a nanorobotic instrument when configured to perform nanomanipulation. For this perspective,
macroscale robots or microrobots that can move with nanoscale precision can also be considered
nanorobots.

Nanorobotics theory

Since nanorobots would be microscopic in size, it would probably be necessary for very large
numbers of them to work together to perform microscopic and macroscopic tasks. These nanorobot
swarms, both those incapable of replication (as in utility fog) and those capable of unconstrained
replication in the natural environment (as in grey goo and its less common variants[clarification needed]), are
found in many science fiction stories, such as the Borg nanoprobes in Star Trek and The Outer
Limits episode The New Breed.

Some proponents of nanorobotics, in reaction to the grey goo scare scenarios that they earlier helped
to propagate, hold the view that nanorobots capable of replication outside of a restricted factory
environment do not form a necessary part of a purported productive nanotechnology, and that the
process of self-replication, if it were ever to be developed, could be made inherently safe. They further
assert that their current plans for developing and using molecular manufacturing do not in fact include
free-foraging replicators.[11][12]

The most detailed theoretical discussion of nanorobotics, including specific design issues such as
sensing, power communication, navigation, manipulation, locomotion, and onboard computation, has
been presented in the medical context of nanomedicine by Robert Freitas. Some of these discussions
remain at the level of unbuildable generality and do not approach the level of detailed engineering.
Approaches

Biochip
The joint use of nanoelectronics, photolithography, and new biomaterials provides a possible
approach to manufacturing nanorobots for common medical applications, such as for surgical
instrumentation, diagnosis and drug delivery.[13][14][15] This method for manufacturing on
nanotechnology scale is currently in use in the electronics industry.[16] So, practical nanorobots should
be integrated as nanoelectronics devices, which will allow tele-operation and advanced capabilities for
medical instrumentation.[17][18]

Nubots
Nubot is an abbreviation for "nucleic acid robots". Nubots are synthetic robotics devices at the
nanoscale. Representative nubots include the several DNA walkers reported by Nadrian Seeman's
group at NYU, Niles Pierce's group at Caltech, John Reif's group at Duke University, Chengde Mao's
group at Purdue, and Andrew Turberfield's group at the University of Oxford.

Positional nanoassembly
Nanofactory Collaboration,[19] founded by Robert Freitas and Ralph Merkle in 2000, is a focused
ongoing effort involving 23 researchers from 10 organizations and 4 countries that is developing a
practical research agenda[20] specifically aimed at developing positionally-controlled
diamond mechanosynthesis and a diamondoid nanofactory that would have the capability of building
diamondoid medical nanorobots.

Bacteria based
This approach proposes the use of biological microorganisms, like the bacterium Escherichia coli.
[21]
 Thus the model uses a flagellum for propulsion purposes. The use of electromagnetic fields are
normally applied to control the motion of this kind of biological integrated device, but has limited
applications.

Open technology
A document with a proposal on nanobiotech development using open technology approaches has
been addressed to the United Nations General Assembly.[22] According to the document sent to
the UN, in the same way that Open Source has in recent years accelerated the development
of computer systems, a similar approach should benefit the society at large and accelerate
nanorobotics development. The use of nanobiotechnology should be established as a human heritage
for the coming generations, and developed as an open technology based on ethical practices
for peaceful purposes. Open technology is stated as a fundamental key for such an aim.

Nanorobot Race
In the same ways that technology development had the space race and nuclear arms race, a race for
nanorobots is occurring.[23][24][25][26] There is plenty of ground allowing nanorobots to be included among
the emerging technologies.[27] Some of the reasons are that large corporations, such as General
Electric, Hewlett-Packard and Northrop Grumman have been recently working in the development
and research of nanorobots;[28][29] surgeons are getting involved and starting to propose ways to apply
nanorobots for common medical procedures;[30] universities and research institutes were granted
funds by government agencies exceeding $2 billion towards research developing nanodevices for
medicine;[31][32] bankers are also strategically investing with the intent to acquire beforehand rights and
royalties on future nanorobots commercialization.[33] Some aspects of nanorobot litigation and related
issues linked to monopoly have already arisen.[34][35][36] A large number of patents has been granted
recently on nanorobots, done mostly for patent agents, companies specialized solely on building
patent portfolio, and lawyers. After a long series of patents and eventually litigations, see for example
the Invention of Radio or about the War of Currents, emerging fields of technology tend to become
a monopoly, which normally is dominated by large corporations.

Nanorobotics is concerned with:

1) Design and fabrication of nanorobots with overall dimensions at or below the micrometer range and
made of nanoscopic components
2) Programming and coordination of large numbers (swarms) of such nanorobots
3) Programmable assembly of nanometer-scale components either by manipulation with macro or micro
devices, or by self-assembly on programmed templates.
Nanorobots have overall dimensions comparable to those of biological cells and organelles. This opens
a vast array of potential applications in environmental monitoring for microorganisms and in health care.
For example, imagine Artificial cells (nanorobots) that patrol the circulatory system, detect small
concentrations of pathogens, and destroy them. This would amount to a programmable immune system,
and might have far-reaching implications in medicine, causing a paradigm shift from treatmentto
prevention. Other applications such as Cell repair might be possible if nanorobots were small enough to
penetrate the cells.

Nanorobotics is the technology of creating machines or robots at or close to the microscopic scale of a

nanometres (10-9 metres). More specifically, nanorobotics refers to the still largely hypothetical
nanotechnology engineering discipline of designing and building
nanorobots. Nanorobots (nanobots,nanoids or nanites) would be typically devices ranging in size from
0.1-10 micrometers and constructed of nanoscale or molecular components. As no artificial non-
biological nanorobots have so far been created, they remain a hypothetical concept at this time.

Another definition sometimes used is a robot which allows precision interactions with nanoscale objects,
or can manipulate with nanoscale resolution. Following this definition even a large apparatus such as an
atomic force microscope can be considered a nanorobotic instrument when configured to perform
nanomanipulation. Also, macroscale robots or microrobots which can move with nanoscale precision
can also be considered nanorobots.

Nanomachines are largely in the research-and-development phase, but some primitive molecular
machines have been tested. An example is a sensor having a switch approximately 1.5 nanometers
across, capable of counting specific molecules in a chemical sample. The first useful applications of
nanomachines, if such are ever built, might be in medical technology, where they might be used to
identify cancer cells and destroy them. Another potential application is the detection of toxic chemicals,
and the measurement of their concentrations, in the environment. Recently, Rice University has
demonstrated a single-molecule car which is developed by a chemical process and includes buckyballs
for wheels. It is actuated by controlling the environmental temperature and by positioning a scanning
tunneling microscope tip. Basic nanomachines are also in use in other areas. Nanotechnology coatings
are already being used to make clothing with stain-resistant fibers and are used on swim suits to repel
water, reduce friction with the water, and allow swimmers to go faster. Nanotech powders are being used
to create high-performance sun-screen lotions and nanoparticles are helping to deliver drugs to targeted
tissues in the body.

Applications

 Early diagnosis and targeted drug delivery for cancer.

 Biomedical instrumentation.

 Surgery.

 Pharmacokinetics.
 Diabetes