The discussion centers on the theoretical maximum strength of mechanical actuators that an infinitely advanced civilization could create, emphasizing the need for non-lethal operation at macroscopic scales. Advanced optical tweezers are identified as potentially stronger than traditional mechanical actuators, allowing for greater force application through tailored materials and manipulation at the molecular level. Current mechanical actuators can exert approximately 10 GN (1 million force-tons), but their speed is limited to around 100 microseconds to avoid structural failure. The conversation explores the physical limits imposed by the laws of physics on human-sized actuators.
PREREQUISITESThis discussion is beneficial for physicists, engineers, and researchers interested in actuator technology, material science, and the theoretical limits of force application in advanced mechanical systems.
Very advanced optical tweezers can theoretically be stronger than mechanical actuators. You can theoretically tailor a material with individual molecules kept at "waist" of beams of different wavelength. This way you can move actuator at larger accelerations and press it harder than its mechanical strength allows, because force is applied to entire volume of actuator instead of just one end.jhami said:What is the strongest actuator (that can exert a controlled amount of force & be able to start/stop linearly or rotationally) that an infinitely advanced civilization could create, and how (what object/process) would they do it? It must be non-lethal or be shielded to be non-lethal at a distance of a few cm and the size and mass must be macroscopic.
jhami said:Yes but that is with current technological limits. What is the maximum physical limit (e.g. only limited by the laws of physics) that a actuator that is human sized can have?