RE: [SG]The Nanite Revolution

The real problem for doing such a thing with nanites is the computing
capapcity of the nanites.

Even with quantum computers (single atoms used to store bits), the
nanites
would have limited capacity for computing and storage of instructions.

To do something as complicated as building power armor, they would have
to
either be released in stages (each type preforming a specific task) or
be
directed from outside (coordinating the millions of individual nanites). 

Also all of the raw materials (at least elements, even if your nanites
can
asseble molecules). I would expect finding the fuel to power the
powerarmor
would be difficult. Even if you can fuse hydrogen at cool tempratures,
you
would still need a large amount of power to start the process.

And the last drawback would be time. How long would it take a couple
tubes
of nanites (solar powered, I assume, so that no energy input is
required) to
assemble, molecule by molecule, a set of powerarmor? Weeks at the
fastest,
months or years more likely.

On the other hand, nanites would be good for making slabs of armor (even
sandwiched, molecule thin layered, armor). And would be extreemly useful
for
refining ores (100% pure plutonium).

They would also make extreemly nasty boobytraps (programmed to
disassemble
molecules of everything except other nanites of the same type once
exposed
to light).

-----
Brian Bell
-----

-----Original Message-----
From: Christopher Downes-Ward
[mailto:Christopher_Downes-Ward@acuma.co.uk]
Sent: Tuesday, December 04, 2001 07:52
To: GZG List (E-mail)
Subject: [SG]The Nanite Revolution

The four tourists stopped their hover jeep next to the old scrapheap,
each
of them took out a tube of toothpaste an dropped in on the ground, they
then
used their hand held computers to send the tubes a signal. The
toothpaste
tubes seemed to dissolve into the ground which then began to writhe.
Slowly
a suit of powered armour emerged appearing as if by magic. Climbing into
their suits the "tourists" set off for the nearby spaceport.

Well that's one possibility anyway. I could also see nanites making
large
differences to logistics. I can't see them removing the need for a
logistics
tail as some substances are still going to be rare.

Chris Downes-Ward