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Nanorobotics
EE453 Project Report submitted by
Michael Wong michaelwong@gmail.com, Fall 2008
Introduction
As science and engineering evolve over time we, as a human race, begin to see
that the separation between science fiction and science dwindles into an unclear, barely
noticeable barrier. It is believed by many that science fiction can no longer be classified
as an improbable world because technology allows us to create what once was thought
to be fantasy. An example of this leap from dreams to reality is the leap humanity took
from Frankenstein to Dolly. Science took a monster from Mary Shelleys imagination
and engineered an animal capable of everything a naturally bred sheep can do.
To continue this process of almost unimaginable feats, humanity now has its
sights set on controlling outcomes on the sub-molecular level. Creating nanobots,
nanoids, nanites, or nanonites to detect early stages of cancer prior to any detection of
typical symptoms is only the beginning stages of these possibilities [1]. Further
development can lead our imagination to the creation of nano-scaled devices that can
easily detect radiation without having to endanger human lives. Furthermore, if science
and engineering prove to be able to perfectly control nanorobotics than perhaps all
humans will one day exist with nanobots existing within.
Prior to explaining the possibilities and the direction of this technology we must
first understand what nanotechnology is and the difficulty that arises in this field. First
off, nanotechnology is described as the field that deals with the controlled manipulation
of objects with nanometer-scale dimensions [2]. To put things into perspective an atom
is about an Angstrom in diameter (1x10 -10m) while the components of a nanobot only
have diameters of 1x10-9m.

Nanometer in Perspective

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Project Description
The initial application of nanobots will most definitely arise in the medical
technology area. Testing has already begun to verify that cancerous cells can be
identified and penetrated by these nanoscopic devices. By analyzing the chemical
difference between a regular cell and cancerous cells engineers can program nanobots
to sample various cells within a particular region of a human body and attack in tensof-thousands of numbers. It is believed that sensors and signals will be attached to
individual devices to help them communicate amongst themselves in order to eliminate
the need for most human interaction [3].

Nanobots Infecting Cancerous Cells

Another application of the nanobots in the medical field is treatment for diabetes.
This method is not targeting the diabetes source itself but rather creating innovative
ways for diabetics to self-medicate. Currently, it is a hassle to have to carry around a
packet of medical items and have to constantly check that sugar levels are within
normal range. The idea behind using nanobots in this field is to self inject one time and
have the nanobots regulate when the insulin should be administered and in proper
quantities [4]. This problem was first issued to Tejal Desai a few years ago and is now
seeing successful cases in laboratory rats. The only reason that these trials are so
successful is because the holes in the nano-sized, insulating carrying capsule are so
small that biological agents are incapable of detecting the source.

Insulin Administrating Agents

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A much further scope that nanobots have in the medical field is the assistance in
sustaining individual human life. Such a concept has yet to be fully explained and
widely accepted. The concept here is to have biologically undetectable nanorobots
flowing in our blood stream analyzing and repairing any and all defects. As shown in
the picture below the nanobots are performing the tasks that white blood cells normally
perform by themselves, which alleviates the need to work so hard and hopefully
minimize bodily stress. This has the potential to drastically increase the length of the
average human life and even more hopefuleliminate all birth defects such as autism,
Down syndrome, and even cerebral palsy [5]. Of course this more of a science fiction
but in time can be turned into a reality.

Nanorobots Assisting White Blood Cells

Although the initial use for the first nanobots will arise in the medical field there
are a vast potential for their use in many more areas. One area that may seem very
unfit to hold the future of nanobots, but very likely, is the environmental analysis sector.
Here it is believed that nanorobots can and will be able to float around certain areas
that are typically in question, such as nuclear waste locations, and continuously gather
information regarding hazardous levels [6]. An addition to examining potential land
hazards nanobots will be able to perform human tasks in radiation infested situations.
They will act as billions of billions of continuously working soldiers that interact amongst
one another to maintain toxins and radiation.

Nanorobots as Sensors in a Radiation Field

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This would be beneficial to humans not only because we would no longer have to
deal with unsafe working conditions but because the nanobots will be a never-resting
production team. This idea stems on the fact that scientist and engineers are
attempting to create nanobots that are capable of self-replication. There is a lot of
skepticism towards this direction of nanobots because others believe that they might
become uncontrollable and essentially overrun the entire planet. Once again, this all
sounds like science fiction but the technology is being created and perhaps more
caution should be taken when designing these nanobots [7].
Now, the most incomprehensible idea that arises from the abilities that these
nanobots will have is the notion that they will be able to dissect portions of molecules
and rearrange them into a desired molecule. What this implies is that nanorobots will, in
theory, one day be able to create any object by altering their surroundings. Televisions,
refrigerators, airplanes will all be constructed in a matter of hours or days without any
human labor and at a very low cost. This would, in theory, drastically reduce the costs
of almost everything we own. Of course, there is a down side to thissince we live in a
capitalist society we will have to adapt to the change in prices much more than a
socialist or communist society [7].
However, a more positive notion is that nanorobots will hopefully be able to
construct animate objects such as plants and possibly human body parts. Since these
robots will, in theory, never cease to exist and will continuously perform assigned tasks
this of course implies that poverty and hunger could be eradicated and medical bills will
no longer have such a financial burden on any victim. Farming will no longer be
required and delivery will essentially be eradicated. It is possible for every person to
have everything that everyone else has. The reality is; if the concept of manipulation of
molecules in order to create a desired object is achievedthe world will no longer be
the viewed as we do so today.

Futuristic Nanorobot

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References
1 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nanorobotics
2 http://www-lmr.usc.edu/~lmr/publications/nanorobotics/
3 http://nanobot.blogspot.com/2004/12/cancer-detection-within-spitting.html
4
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/678521/revolutionizing_diabetes_treatment.ht
ml
5 http://www.nanobot.info/
6 http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,,sid9_gci514355,00.html
7 http://www.def-logic.com/articles/nanomachines.html