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| Lars Pensjö... |
 Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:02 am |
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There is a machine called RepRap that can create 3D objects (http://
www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome). One goal is to be able to
create a copy of itself. This goal has been reached to a certain
percentage (don't remember, maybe around 50%).
Is it theoretically possible, given unlimited raw materials, to create
a machine that copies itself, which in turn creates the next copy, for
ever?
That is, I would think every new copy will have decreased precision,
until a unit will no longer function well enough to make the next one. |
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| Nomen Publicus... |
| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:41 pm |
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Lars Pensjö <lars.pensjo at (no spam) gmail.com> wrote:
[quote:e575ae1c64]There is a machine called RepRap that can create 3D objects (http://
www.reprap.org/bin/view/Main/WebHome). One goal is to be able to
create a copy of itself. This goal has been reached to a certain
percentage (don't remember, maybe around 50%).
Is it theoretically possible, given unlimited raw materials, to create
a machine that copies itself, which in turn creates the next copy, for
ever?
[/quote:e575ae1c64]
Yes. http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/handle/2027.42/24968
While the paper is a proof of concept, consider a robot that is programmed
to use machine tools to create a set of components that when put together
create a second identical robot. When the first robot completes the second
the program is copied into the new robot and started.
Some years ago there was a fad for writing computer programs that, when run,
generate an identical copy of themselves. The program could not use any
external copy services that may be provided by the bios or operating system.
http://www.nyx.net/~gthompso/quine.htm
[quote:e575ae1c64]
That is, I would think every new copy will have decreased precision,
until a unit will no longer function well enough to make the next one.
[/quote:e575ae1c64]
If you insist on the first machine performing self-examination to determine
what must be built you will have problems as at some point it will almost
certainly lose the ability to function as it disassembles itself :-)
One usually seperates the hardware and software and includes a
self-description as part of the software. In this case precision is
maintained and the device doesn't become the 3D equivalent of a
multi-generation photocopy.
OTOH, making mistakes while copying introduces a means for the emerging
robot population to evolve...
--
Mel Gibson isn't known for being faithful to the original source.
His remake of The Life of Brian is rubbish. -- Michael C |
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