X-Message-Number: 13329
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
References: <>
Subject: nanopower
Date: Tue, 29 Feb 2000 11:29:05 -0000

----- Original Message ----- > Message #13324
> Date: Mon, 28 Feb 2000 11:03:27 -0500 (EST)
> From: Charles Platt <>
> Subject: nanopower
>
> > From: "Paul Michael" <>
> > It may not be a requirement that nano machines will require high
> > levels of "on board" computing power. They may simply need to be able
> > to communicate with such an entity.
>
> Sigh. As I pointed out in a previous message, Drexler himself has
> acknowledged in his books that the bandwidth for communication between the
> assemblers and any external computing engine is likely to be limited.
> This limits the ability of the outside computer to see what the assemblers
> see, and tell them precisely what to do. For similar reasons, the Mars
> rover was autonomous in many respects.

Surely the problem with robots on another planet is the time delay when
using a means of communication along the only available straight line with
finite speed (ie radio - the best there is so far).

I have not read all of Drexler's books. In his calculations, does he only
consider each assembler broadcasting in every direction, or has he
considered directed transmissions from unit to unit? The latter system,
first proposed in the 1960s, enables wireless communication to have some of
the features of cabled communication, ie re-use of bandwidth by keeping
transmissions enclosed on a route so that they don't interfere with each
other.

--
Sincerely, John de Rivaz
my homepage links to Longevity Report, Fractal Report, my singles club for
people in Cornwall, music, Inventors' report, an autobio and various other
projects:       http://geocities.yahoo.com/longevityrpt

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