Robotic Nanotech Swarms on Mars... in 2034

Roland Piquepaille writes "NASA is testing a shape-shifting robot called 'TETwalker' for tetrahedral walker, because it looks like a flexible pyramid. It has been tested in the lab and at the McMurdo station in Antarctica to test it under conditions more like those on Mars. Now, it is on the way to be -- really -- miniaturized by using micro- and nano-electro-mechanical systems. These robots will eventually join together to form 'autonomous nanotechnology swarms' (ANTS). When it's done, in about thirty years, these nanotech swarms will 'alter their shape to flow over rocky terrain or to create useful structures like communications antennae and solar sails.' So in 2034, nanotechnology will land on Mars. Read more for other details and references about the TETwalker and the ANTS project."

Comments

Link to the TETwalker

[scdeimos]

For those who are curious...
http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/roboticexplore rs/ants.html

NASA's ANTS webpage

[karvind]

Here. The page has more details and link to movies.

Bypass Roland Piquepaille

[elronxenu]

The relevant original links:
Here and Here.

Re:Reproduction?

[gwydion04]

Could be a bad idea... don't forget the concept of "Grey Goo".

Re:Let me give you some statistics...

[Leeji]

What is the concern with this blog? It's the absolute dearth of original information.

Let's look at the composition of a few recent blog entries, in characters:

Entry Excerpts Link Wrapper Self-written
Nanotech Swarms 2280 910 670
Nano-Probes 2185 767 1053
Toilets 1206 787 1006

Note that most of the "self-written" portions are vapid statements such as "But where is nanotechnology involved in this project?"

So, we have 52% of the text coming from plagiarism, ~ 23% of the text coming from introducing / pointing out links, and ~ %25% of the text coming from saying the obvious. That's the problem with the blog.

The technique used on the site is barely better than the spam search engines that link to (and excerpt from) Wikipedia.