Clanking replicator and BinomialDistribution/Revisited: Difference between pages
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The term '''clanking replicator''' refers to an artificial [[self-replication|self-replicating]] |
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system that relies on conventional large-scale technology and automation. |
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They are also sometimes called "Auxons", from the [[Greek]] word ''auxein'' which means "to grow". |
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The term evolved to distinguish such systems from the microscopic "[[assembler]]s" |
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that [[nanotechnology]] may make possible. |
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Whilst such a machine violates no physical laws, and we already possess the basic technologies necessary for some of the more detailed proposed designs, constructing a clanking replicator is not considered to be of economic interest at ths time. |
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It is unlikely that this would all be contained within an single monolithic machine, but would rather |
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be an automated factory that is capable of manufacturing all of the components that make it up |
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and assembling them at a remote site. |
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The factory could produce mining [[robot|robots]] to collect raw materials, construction robots |
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to put new machines together, and repair robots to maintain itself against wear and tear, |
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all without human intervention or direction. |
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The advantage of such a system lies in its ability to expand its own capacity rapidly and without |
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additional human effort. |
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:''See also :'' [[BinomialDistribution]] |
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The idea of non-biological self-replicating systems was first seriously suggested by mathematician |
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[[John von Neumann]] in the late [[1940s]] when he proposed a kinematic self-reproducing automaton |
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model as a thought experiment. |
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See von Neumann, J., [[1966]], ''The Theory of Self-reproducing Automata'', A. Burks, ed., |
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Univ. of Illinois Press, Urbana, IL. |
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In [[1980]], [[NASA]] conducted a summer study entitled |
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''[http://www.islandone.org/MMSG/aasm/ Advanced Automation for Space Missions]'', |
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edited by [[Robert Freitas]], to produce a detailed proposal for the use of self-replicating |
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factories to develop lunar resources without requiring additional launches or the support |
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of human workers on-site. |
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The proposed system would have been capable of exponentially increasing productive capacity and, |
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in the long run, exploration of the entire galaxy within a reasonable timeframe. |
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This study inspired the science fiction novel ''[[Code of the Lifemaker]]'' (ISBN 0-345-30549-3) |
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by author [[James P. Hogan]]. |
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An early fictional treatment was the short story ''Autofac'' by [[Philip K. Dick]], |
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published in [[1955]], which actually seems to precede von Neumann's original paper about |
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self-reproducing machines. |
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Another example can be found in the [[1962]] short story ''Epilogue'' by [[Poul Anderson]], |
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in which self-replicating factory barges were proposed that used minerals extracted from |
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ocean water as raw materials. |
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Clanking replicators are mentioned briefly in the |
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[http://www.foresight.org/EOC/EOC_Chapter_4.html#section01of03 fourth chapter] of |
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[[K. Eric Drexler|K. Eric Drexler's]] book ''[[Engines of Creation]]''. |
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There was an article about a proposed clanking replicator system to be used for developing |
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Earthly deserts in the October [[1995]] [[Discover Magazine]], featuring forests of solar panels |
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that powered desalination equipment to irrigate the land. |
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In [[1998]], [[Chris Phoenix]] |
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[http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=en&selm=6f0nui%248ih%241%40news.nanospace.com proposed] a design |
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for a macroscale replicator on the sci.nanotech [[usenet|newsgroup]], operating in a pool of |
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[[ultraviolet]]-cured liquid [[plastic]], selectively solidifying the plastic to form solid parts. |
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Computation could be done by [[fluidic logic]]. |
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Power for the process could be supplied by a pressurized source of the liquid. |
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As the use of industrial automation has expanded over time, some factories have begun to approach |
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a semblance of self-sufficiency that is suggestive of clanking replicators. |
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However, it is unlikely that such factories will achieve "full closure" in the near future |
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so long as human labour and external spare part supplies remain conveniently available to them. |
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Fully-capable machine replicators are most useful for developing resources in dangerous environments |
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which are not easily reached by existing transporation systems. |
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[[talk:Clanking_replicator|Talk]] |
Revision as of 00:51, 27 January 2002
- See also : BinomialDistribution