Maximum mechanical actuator strength allowed by physics

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the potential for creating the strongest actuator by an infinitely advanced civilization, focusing on the ability to exert controlled force in both linear and rotational movements while ensuring non-lethality at close distances. Advanced optical tweezers are highlighted as a theoretical option that could surpass traditional mechanical actuators in strength. By manipulating materials at the molecular level using beams of different wavelengths, these tweezers could apply force across the entire volume of an actuator, allowing for greater accelerations and pressures than conventional methods. Current mechanical actuators can exert forces around 10 GN, comparable to diamond anvils, but are limited by speed and the risk of shattering. Theoretical advancements in optical positioning could enhance speed without significantly increasing force limits. The conversation also touches on the maximum physical limits of human-sized actuators, emphasizing the need to consider the fundamental laws of physics in these discussions.
jhami
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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.
 
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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.
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.
 
Well what is the limit of the strength of just a actuator (with human sized mass/size)
 
Mechanical actuator of human size can put roughly ~10 GN (1 million force-tons). Think of diamond anvils.
It would be rather slow though: positioning will require at ~100 microseconds to prevent shattering. Optical positioning can theoretically bypass speed limitations by arbitrary factor, although force limits is increased by no more than factor of 3.
 
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?
 
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?

So, of course, you can provide those "laws of physics." Right?
 
What?
 
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