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bauhaus
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Are self-replicating machines still theoretical or have demonstration models (other than the rip rap 3d printer)been produced?
samsara15 said:How could a self-replicating machine power itself without violating Conservation of Energy?
anorlunda said:My guess is that an artificial virus will be the first.
Every candidate, however, requires some sort of energy input. A riprap 3d printer requires electricity. Artificial bacteria eat things. Surely you are not visualizing a self-replicating machine as some sort of perpetual motion system?bauhaus said:Thanks for the comments.
So from what I see so far only the rip rap is close and artificial bacteria. From what I've read so far they are theoretically possible, no question. The science and engineering aspects are sound, just never actually fabricated yet. How many months are we away from constructing a 100% or close to 100% device? I mean a riprap 3d printer can already print more than half its own parts to create a daughter machine. reprap.org I have been researching this issue but could not make any definitive determination.
When imagined in the capacity of colonization, they don't replicate in deep space - there's no reason to, nor - as has been pointed out - any way to. What they typically do is seek out resources needed, for example finding planets or asteroids, and harvesting the required materials.samsara15 said:I presumed that the self-replicating bots would be used to colonize other planets in other star systems, which apparently, in this case, was an incorrect assumption. That is the most common reason why I have heard people propose the creation of self-replicating bots.
RepRap is hardly close.bauhaus said:Thanks for the comments.
So from what I see so far only the rip rap is close and artificial bacteria. From what I've read so far they are theoretically possible, no question. The science and engineering aspects are sound, just never actually fabricated yet. How many months are we away from constructing a 100% or close to 100% device? I mean a riprap 3d printer can already print more than half its own parts to create a daughter machine. reprap.org I have been researching this issue but could not make any definitive determination.
russ_watters said:What is the point of self-replicating anyway?
2946460 My response is yes, i should have mentioned that m-type asteroids and possibly icy asteroids would be the exclusive source for raw materials. Difficulty, the "brains" part of the self-replication machine would be the most difficult to reproduce.Vanadium 50 said:This is an ill-defined question.
At the risk of putting words in Russ' mouth, I'm fairly certain he is well-aware what we might do with it. His question is more along the lines of there are much larger and nearer hurdles to overcome.DrStupid said:A practical example would be building an industry on the Moon. Without self-replication this would be incredible expensive or even impossible due to the transport costs from Earth to Moon. These costs would be obsolete with robots that can build infrastructure and machines (including copies of themselves) using local resources.russ_watters said:What is the point of self-replicating anyway?
1. That concern is trivial, within only a few solar cycles a von neumann system could include a em drive, a canne drive. Building a intergalactice drive is unlikely to have any exponential effect that from which a von neumann system benefits.DaveC426913 said:His question is more along the lines of there are much larger and nearer hurdles to overcome.
Consider:
"How close are we to an intergalactic drive, for colonizing other galaxies?"
"What is the point in looking at an intergalactic drive? We haven't even made it off our own planet yet. Never mind to other stars in our own galaxy."
.
You completely and utterly missed the point of my post.bauhaus said:1. That concern is trivial,
bauhaus said:I respectfully disagree.
The Large Hadron Collider cost $13.25 billion. After doing some cursory research I am confident that humanity can create a machine that can reproduce itself for much less than the cost of the LHC. It appears that its not true that we are no where near a device when you consider the following, completely closed known designs.
Currently, we have made significant progress in creating self-replicating machines in the field of nanotechnology. However, we are still far from producing a fully functional and efficient self-replicating machine that can replicate itself without human intervention.
One of the biggest challenges in creating a self-replicating machine is designing a system that can accurately and efficiently replicate itself without any errors. Additionally, ensuring that the machine has the ability to acquire and utilize energy and materials from its environment is also a major hurdle.
Yes, self-replicating machines have the potential to revolutionize various industries such as manufacturing, medicine, and space exploration. They can be programmed to perform tasks that are too dangerous or tedious for humans, leading to increased efficiency and safety.
As with any emerging technology, there are ethical concerns that need to be addressed when it comes to self-replicating machines. These include the potential for these machines to replicate uncontrollably and cause harm to the environment or humans, as well as the possibility of creating a new form of life.
Some of the potential risks associated with self-replicating machines include the loss of control over their replication process, leading to unintended consequences. There is also a concern that these machines could outcompete and replace human labor, leading to job loss. Additionally, there is a risk of these machines being used for malicious purposes if they fall into the wrong hands.