Self reproducing machine

‘On models of reproduction’ by Homer Jacobson

Must have the following elements:

1. Environment, where parts freely circulate2. Adequate supply of parts3. Source of energy to assembly the parts4. An assembled proto-individual (must take the parts from environment to have its own copy)

Analogous to bacteria

.Bacteria, in optimal conditions, grow and divide rapidly.

.Can grow in solid or liquid area.

.Follows 3 phases for growth and reproduction:

1 lag phase: slow growth, adaptation to high nutrient environment and prepare to fast growth

2 logarithmic phase: exponential growth until a lack of one of the nutrients limits growth

3 stationary phase: no nutrients, bacteria cannot continue to produce indefinitely.

Growth and reproduction

Examples of bacterial flagella arrangement schemes

Analogous to bacteria

Movement and arrangement (1st kind: Flagella)

Long thin structures to propel themselves

counter-clockwise creates a torque

Bacteria rotate clockwise

Analogous to bacteria

Movement and arrangement (2nd kind: Cilium)

Cilium can change its direction and beat forward, going backward.

It can turn and take different directions thanks to its structure.

Analogous to bacteria

Movement and arrangement (Flagellum and Cilia)

(chosen)

EnvironmentOptions

Problem: Fire resistant materials Problem: Lots of obstacles (people, animals, buildings, plants, etc.)

Problem: More information about planets’ surface and surrounding

EnvironmentChosen: Water

Reasons:

.Option to follow the water direction without using so much energy

. ‘Less crowded’

. Not so many intelligent species capable to destroy or get rid of machines.

.Less human interference

.Chance to choose state of water (liquid or solid?) …should choose liquid because of a temperature reading. T° = movement

.Easier interaction between machines

.Sensors: possibility to recognize % of elements in each part of the machine.

.Example. Left arm has X% of Al, Y% of Cu, whereas right arm has Z% of Al and N% of Cu.

.% of basic elements might help identify which part it is, shape, size, weight and the correct steps to follow for the reproduction.

Sensors and materials (option1)

.Sensors: possibility to recognize colors

.Relation between a part of the machine and a range of colors thanks to the PANTONE codes, where almost 3000 colors can be found.

example: from code 1767 to 1777 it is considered red and it is the left arm, from code 1867 to 1877 it is considered yellow and it is the right arm)

.Colors might help identify which part it is, shape, size, weight and the correct steps to follow for the reproduction (1st green body, 2nd red left arm, 3rd yellow right arm, etc.)

Sensors and colors (option2)

Arms to avoid interference with rocks or any material in water, and

to carry parts of the machine.

Use of rubber to catch parts (friction)

Source of energy

righ-left

up-down

Sensory system to identify parts (color),

location, order

Movement (beating)

Heavier zone to avoid frontal sinking

Aqua self

Turn right

Turn left

forwards

backwards

Important: rotation and moving during/for self replication

Aqua self

water

60° of vision to identify parts floating

Heavier to avoid front part sink

Solar energy

energy from water?

Aqua self

.Gather to form communities

.Chance to move once the source of energy has decreased (analogous to bacteria: stationary phase)

Aqua self