Physics of chemoreception

This multiplicity was chosen following Drexler's suggestion that tenfold redundancy in nanomechanical systems should suffice to reduce system failure to negligible levels.

“This multiplicity was chosen following Drexler's suggestion [ 11 that tenfold redundancy in nanomechanical systems should suffice to reduce system failure to negligible levels.”

Molecular sorting rotors have been proposed that would be ideal for conveying gas molecules into and out of pressurized microvessels.

“Molecular sorting rotors have been proposed [ 11 that would be ideal for this task (Figure 1).”

Assuming ~500 bits/sec-nm3 and 10^18 bit/sec-watt for nanomechanical computers, and ~5 bits/nm3 for nanomechanical mass storage systems, each 10^4 bit/sec CPU is allocated a volume of ~10^4 nm3 and consumes ~10^-14 watt (3% of the power output of one glucose engine), while 500 kilobits of memory requires ~10^5 nm3.

“Assuming -500 bits/sec-nm3 and 1018 bitdsec-watt for nanomechanical computers, and -5 bits/ nmA3 for nanomechanical mass storage systems [ 11, each lo4 bit/sec CPU is allocated a volume of -104 nm3 and consumes -10-14 watt (3% of the power output of one glucose engine), while 500 kilobits of memory requires -105 nm3.”

Molecular sorting rotors can be designed from about 10^5 atoms (including housing), measuring roughly 7 nm x 14 nm x 14 nm in size with a mass of 2 x 10^-21 kg.

“Molecular sorting rotors can be designed from about 105 atoms (including the housing), measuring roughly 7 nm x 14 nm x 14 nm in size with a mass of 2 x 10-21 kg.”

Taking Drexler's estimate of 10^9 watt/m3 for mechanochemical power conversion, a glucose engine could measure 42 nm x 42 nm x 175 nm in size, comprising 10^8 atoms (~10^-18 kg).

“Taking Drexler's estimate of 109 wattdm3 for mechanochemical power conversion [ 11, a glucose engine could measure 42 nm x 42 nm x 175 nm in size, comprising 108 atoms (-10-l8 kg).”

In the next 10-30 years it may become possible to construct machines on the micron scale comprised of parts on the nanometer scale.

“One major implication of this realization is that in the next 10-30 years it may become possible to construct machines on the micron ( meter) scale, comprised of parts on the nanometer”

Mechanisms proposed by Drexler to transmit data at <10 MHz (~10^7 bit/sec) using peak-to-trough 10-atm pressure pulses may be (42 nm)^3 in size, comprising 10^5 atoms (~2 x 10^-21 kg).

“Mechanisms proposed by Drexler [ 11 to transmit data at <10 MHz (-107 bitdsec) using peak-to-trough 10-atm pressure pulses (the same as medical pulse-echo diagnostic ultrasound systems) may be 4 2 1 nm)3 in size, comprising 105 atoms (-2 x 10-21 kg).”

Most proposals for durable nanostructures employ the strongest materials, such as flawless diamond or sapphire constructed atom by atom, with Young's modulus 10^12 nt/m2 and conservative working stress ~0.2 times tensile strength of 10^10 nt/m2.

“Most proposals for durable nanostructures employ the strongest materials, such as flawless diamond or sapphire constructed atom by atom, with Young's modulus 10l2 nt/m2 (107 atm) and conservative working smss (-0.2 times tensile strength) of 1010 ndm2 (lo0,ooO a m ) [ 11.”

Molecular sorting rotors could sort small molecules of 20 or fewer atoms at a rate of 10^6 molecules/sec with laminar flow for an energy cost of 10^-22 joule/molecule sorted, and pump against head pressures up to 30,000 atm at an additional energy cost up to 10^-19 joule/molecule.

“These devices could sort small molecules of 20 or fewer atoms at a rate of 106 moleculedsec with laminar flow for an energy cost of 10-22 joule/molecule sorted, and pump against head pressures up to 30,000 atm at an additional energy cost up to 10-19 joule/molecule [ 11.”

Molecular manufacturing promises precise control of matter at the atomic and molecular level, allowing the construction of micron-scale machines comprised of nanometer-scale components.

“Molecular manufacturing promises precise control of matter at the atomic and molecular level, allowing the construction of micron-scale machines comprised of nanometer-scale components.”