Nanotechnology and

RoboticsBy Dr. Roman Saini

Nanotechnology

● The ideas and concepts behind nanoscience and nanotechnology started with a talk entitled “There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom” by physicist Richard Feynman on December 29, 1959.

● Nanotechnology and nanoscience came into prominence in the early 1980s with two major developments:

○ the birth of cluster science and

○ the invention of the scanning tunnelling microscope (STM).

● This development led to the discovery of fullerenes in 1985 and carbon nanotubes a few years later.

● Nano Technology is a knowledge-intensive and “enabling technology” which is expected to influence a wide range of products and processes with far-reaching implications for national economy and development.

● It is science, engineering, and technology conducted at the nanoscale, which is about 1 to 100 nanometers.

● The term ‘nano’ comes from the Latin word for ‘dwarf’ and in scientific terminology refers to a nanometer (nm).

● One nanometer is a millionth of a millimeter and a billionth of a meter, or 10-9 of a meter.

● A single human hair is around 80,000 nanometers in width.

Properties of Nanomaterials● Nanomaterials can be stronger or lighter or conduct heat or electricity

in a different way. ● They can even change colour; particles of gold can appear red, blue or

gold, depending on their size. ● Opaque substances become transparent (copper); inert materials

become catalysts (platinum); stable materials turn combustible (alumi num); solids turn into liquids at room temperature (gold) and insulators become conductors (silicon).

● Materials such as gold, which is chemically inert at normal scales, can serve as a potent chemical catalyst at nanoscales.

Working Principle● Nanotechnology works on the principle of change of physical properties

on a transition from microparticles scale to nanoparticles scale.

● The change in the physical property is due to two major factors:

○ Increase in the ratio of surface area to volume: The high surface area is a critical factor in the performance of catalysis and structures such as electrodes, allowing improvement in the performance of such technologies as fuel cells and batteries.

○ Size of the particle moving into the quantum realm where the properties of elements are greatly altered.

Generation of Nanoparticles● Nanoparticles are produced naturally by plants, algae and volcanic

activity. ● They have also been created for thousands of years as products of cooking

and burning, and more recently from vehicle exhausts. ● Some proteins in the body, which control things like flexing muscles and

repairing cells, are nanosized. ● Some naturally functioning nanostructures in the human body are insulin

(2nm), hae moglobin (4nm) and many of the enzymes.● Carbon fragments can self-assemble into nanotubes. Fullerenes are

nanomaterials.

Applications of Nanotechnology

● Nanotechnologies are widely seen as having huge potential in areas as diverse as healthcare, IT and energy storage.

● Nanotechnology is not a new concept, for example, nano-sized particles of gold and silver have been used as coloured pigments in stained glass since the 10th century AD.

● The impact of nanotechnology in the field of electronics is far-reaching. ● Although advances in silicon technology continue to revolutionize micro/

nanoelectronics, there are cases where the non-Si device and component technologies provide superior performance.

● With modern material growth techniques, it is possible to grow and fabricate multilayered nano-structures and devices comprising of different materials with nanoscale thickness.

● Further, nanotechnology-enabled sensors are providing new solutions in physical, chemical and biological sensing that enable increased detection sensitivity, microsystems integration capability and portability for a wide variety of health safety and environmental assessments.

● Computer chips have nano-sized features etched into their surface, and nanotechnologies have enabled computers to be made smaller and faster.

● Nano-sized wires and tubes have remarkable optical, electronic and magnetic properties, so they will prove useful in storing computer data.

● Carbon nanotubes may lead to new building materials, being much stronger and lighter than steel.

Carbon Nanotube:● Carbon nanotubes are allotropes of carbon which have tubular shape and are

made of graphite.● They are extremely stiff and strong, are known to have extraordinary

electrical properties, heat conduction properties and therefore are commercially useful.

● One restraint in the commercial application of carbon nanotubes is the high cost for production of high-quality nanotubes.

Cleaning Water● Nano-membranes have been produced that are portable and easily- cleaned

systems that purify, detoxify and desalinate water meaning that third-world countries could get clean water, solving many water related health issues.

Cosmetics:● Nanoparticles of titanium dioxide have been added to some suntan lotions

and cosmetics. ● These tiny particles are transparent on the skin and can absorb and reflect

ultraviolet rays.Cleaning Materials:● Nanoparticles can also be fixed into layers on surfaces, to give them new

properties.● Tiny particles of titanium dioxide, for example, can be layered onto glass

to make self-cleaning windows—windows which repel water and use sunlight to break down dirt, so the rain washes it away and the glass is left clean.

Increase in Catalysis

● Nanoparticles provide an extremely large surface to volume ratio. Since catalysis depends on the surface to volume ratio, use of nanoparticles can enhance catalytic rate.

● This can be applied in fuel cells, catalytic converters and photocatalytic devices.

● Use of Platinum nanoparticles as automotive catalytic converters is an example.

Filtration using Nanotechnology

● Nanofiltration can be done with nanoporous membranes that mechanically separate extremely small particles.

● The pores in these membranes are smaller than 10 nm.

Filtration of Air

● Catalysts made from nanoparticles provide a larger surface area.

● This allows better interaction between chemicals and catalysts that are used in industrial plants to turn the chemical vapors into less harmful gases before releasing them into the atmosphere.

● This will lead to better air quality.

Increasing efficiency of Energy production

● Nanotechnology approaches can help in the storage of energy, efficient conversion of energy, manufacturing improvements by reducing materials and process rates, energy saving and enhanced renewable energy sources.

Electronic memory storage with Nanomaterials

● Nanomaterials are seen as an option for replacing flash memory in the future.

● Nantero has developed a carbon nanotube based crossbar memory called Nano-RAM memory technology that is fast, capable of storing extremely large data and is permanently nonvolatile.

In Aerospace Engineering and Vehicle Manufacture

● Nanotechnology can enable the manufacture of lighter and stronger materials.

In Space Science

● Nanotechnology can be used to produce sensors, power sources, probes, rovers and spacecrafts at a nanoscale.

In Defence

● Intelligence gathering and reconnaissance through difficult to detect sensors/cameras/recording devices.

● Precision guiding tools for snipers/others who use fire mortar shells.

In Agriculture

● Bioindicators can be used to detect the biomagnification of pesticides and fertilizers.

● Nanosilver, when used as an antibacterial agent, maintains its ability to reduce odour-causing bacteria longer and require smaller quantities than other silver preservatives.

● Bio-conjugated nanoparticles (encapsulation) can be used for slow release of nutrients and water in precision farming.

In Construction

● Asphalt and concrete can be made more robust to water seepage.

● Heat-resistant nanomaterials can block ultraviolet and infrared radiation.

● Self-cleaning surfaces (e.g., windows, mirrors, toilets) can be obtained with bioactive coatings.

In Renewable Energy

● Carbon nanotubes and other lightweight nanomaterials can help in hydrogen storage and in composite film coatings for solar cells.

● Low cost Photovoltaic cells and OLED displays based on quantum dots.

In products used in everyday life

Some examples include:

● Manufacture of clothes that have nanomaterials to make them crease-resistant.

● Antibacterial bandages have been produced using silver nanoparticles.

● Nanotech Swimsuits.

● Titanium dioxide nanoparticles in sunscreens.

● Self-cleaning glass product called Activ Glass that contains nanoparticles offering photocatalytic and hydrophilic action.

Nanomedicine● Nanomedicine uses materials and devices designed at the level of

molecular or nanoscale for medical purposes of diagnosis, prevention of disease and treatment of traumatic injury, relieving pain, and for generally improving human health.

● If we operate at a nano-scale inside the cells—both to diagnose and deliver drugs, it will revolutionise biomedical sciences.

● Cells and tissues can be examined in unprecedented detail and the information available can help scientists nip diseases in the bud.

● Nano instruments can help to identify and kill cancer cells, deliver oxygen in diseased tissues, create artificial RBCs and map DNA structure and repair them in case of genetic disorder.

● Nanoparticles can assist in ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

● They can penetrate through cell walls and into cytoplasm inside the cell nucleus and help in treatment.

● They can access areas crossing barriers and stimulate the body’s innate repair mechanism.

● As the colour of a nanoparticle depends on its size, different proteins in a cell can be detected.

● Cancer, for instance, is detected using the amount of specific proteins called biomarkers in the blood.

● When infected, the nanomaterials move through the body by using the natural transport pathways and the natural mechanism of absorption of drugs by the diseased cells.

● So, the body’s immune system does not recognise these materials as ‘foreign’.

● ‘Smart drugs’—nano- sized therapeutic drugs are efficient in drug delivery and have little side effects.

● Some nanoparticles, particularly quantum dots, can be sent into the body to detect and treat cancer when only a few cancerous cells exist.

● The nanoparticles are loaded with different biological markers (acting as tags specific for a particular type of cancer) and drugs so that these could reach straight to the cancerous cells and kill them exclusively without affecting the surrounding healthy tissues.

● Some fluorescent nanoparticles light up while doing MRI/CT scan.

● This helps in revealing precise locations of cancerous growth in the body.

● The nanorobots can be used to destroy bacterial infestations, cancer cells, in treating vascular diseases such as blocked blood vessels, physical trauma and ageing.

● Use of nanorobots in cancers would avoid the toxic effects of current treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

● In the case of clogged blood vessels, nanorobots would travel around blood vessels, clean them and would heal the damaged areas.

● Nanotweezers and surgical tools which are only a few nanometers thick are also in the development stage.

● Nanotweezers are electrically controlled multiwalled carbon nanotubes which are used to grab single biological molecule within the cell.

● Molecular nanotechnology in future would allow doctors to perform surgery on an individual human cell.

Nano Mission● The Government of India, in May 2007, has approved the launch of a

Mission on Nano Science and Technology (Nano Mission) with an allocation of Rs. 1000 crore for 5 years.

● The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is the nodal agency for implementing the Nano Mission.

● The Nano Mission is the second phase of DST activities in Nano Science and Technology.

● DST, in October 2001, had launched a modest programme in Nano Science and Technology, called the Nano Science and Technology Initiative (NSTI), and the Nano Mission is the successor of this programme.

Focus areas of the nano mission are:

● Capacity-building in research in nanoscience and technology;

● Training and creation of a large skilled manpower base;

● Development of products and processes for national development especially in the fields such as materials development, drug delivery and safe drinking water, etc.;

● Establishment of linkages between industry and research and educational institutions and promoting public private partnerships (PPPs); and

● Promoting foreign collaboration in nanotechnology programmes.

Objectives:

In brief, the objectives of the Nano-Mission are:

1. Basic Research Promotion

2. Infrastructure Development for Nano Science & Technology Research

3. Nano Applications and Technology Development Programmes

4. Human Resource Development

5. International Collaborations

Nanotechnology Initiative Division (MeitY)

● Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has taken several major initiatives for the promotion of Nanoelectronics research and innovation in the country.

● Major Nanoelectronics Centres of international standards have been established at premier institutes in the country.

● The state-of-the-art nanofabrication facilities at these Centres have become very popular both in India and abroad.

● Also, the Indian Nanoelectronics Users Programme (INUP) initiated by MeitY is being implemented at the Centre of Excellence in Nanoelectronics (CEN) at IISc and IIT Bombay

● It has provided a great opportunity for R&D community all over the country for accessing state of the art nanofabrication facilities for undertaking research and skill development in Nanoelectronics.

● The focus of Nanotechnology Initiatives Division has been towards development of an eco-system for semiconductor manufacturing in India through cutting edge research in nanoelectronics, developing products/ devices for meeting the societal requirements in the country and creating world class fabrication facilities at Nano level.

Following are the thrust areas identified by the Working Group of Nanotechnology:

1. Post Moore Electronics beyond 10 nm

2. Sensors (health, agriculture, security etc.)

3. Organic Electronics

4. Computational Nanoelectronics

5. Setting up prototyping and incubation facilities for a range of devices/products

Disadvantages of Nanotechnology

Being a most beneficial technology for human life, nanotechnology cannot be taken without any limitation or any harmful effects for us. Following are the areas where its disadvantages can be observed:1. Health Issues: Nanotechnology uses nano particles that can be inhaled. And

these nanoparticles are harmful for lungs. Some products made by nanoparticles have the coating of poisonous particles that can enter in the human brain during the use or contact of these products.

2. Environmental pollution: The processing of nanoparticles has a great potential to pollute the water and the air. And this pollution is called Nanopollution. It will add to the disastrous condition of environmental degradation.

3. Lack of Employment: Nanotech devices and machines have taken the place of humans to work faster and accurately which has lessened the importance of manpower in the field of practical work.

4. Valuable products: Nanotechnology can enable the production of high value products at low costs which will eliminate the value of such products.

Example: Fuels and diamonds

5. Industry and manufacturing: Industrial development of nanotechnology requires high rates of investment at initial stages and also poses the risk of being successful.

6. High cost of products: The products developed using nanotechnology would be expensive as its production involves high set up cost, labor cost, risk factor etc

7. Protection of human life: Nanoparticles can be used by terrorists to produce atomic weapons and can cause harm to the society easily.

Robotics

● Robotics is the science which deals with the study of kinematics, dynamics and functioning of various components of a robot.

● It deals with the design, manufacture, application & using the computer for manipulation & processing of robots.

● The word "Robotics" was invented by science fiction writer Isaac Asimov.

● The design of a given robotic system brings together doctrines of electronic engineering, mechanical engineering and computer science.

ROBOT● Robotics International Division of the Society of Manufacturing

Engineering defines an industrial robot as:

"Industrial robot is a reprogrammable multifunctional manipulator designed to move materials, parts, tools or specialized devices through variable programmed motions for the performance of a variety of task."

● In general terms, the robot refers to all those electromechanical machines which can be programmed to perform manual tasks.

● The robots wholly or in part can imitate human behavior or appearance or actions.

Computer as a ROBOT:

Three features that turn a computer into a robot are

1. Sensors which catch information from the environment.

2. Microprocessors which convert that information into new forms.

3. Actuators which control the energy needed to change the environment.

Types of Robots1. Industrial Robots:

● An industrial robot is a robot system used for manufacturing.

● Industrial robots are automated, programmable and capable of movement on two or more axes.

● Typical applications of robots include welding, painting, assembly, pick and place for printed circuit boards, packaging and labeling, palletizing, product inspection, and testing; all accomplished with high endurance, speed, and precision.

● They can assist in material handling.

2. Humanoid Robots:

● A humanoid robot is a robot with its body shape built to resemble the human body.

● The design may be for functional purposes, such as interacting with human tools and environments, for experimental purposes, such as the study of locomotion, or for other purposes.

● These robots can adapt to changes in the environment and in itself that makes them different from other kinds of robots like industrial Robots.

● They are capable of self maintenance (recharge itself), autonomous learning (learn or gain new capabilities without outside assistance), and adapting to new situations.

3. Domestic robots:

• A domestic robot is a type of service robot, an autonomous robot that is primarily used for household chores but may also be used for education, entertainment or therapy.

• Thus far, there are only a few limited models, though speculators, such as Bill Gates, have suggested that they could become more common in the future.

• While most domestic robots are simplistic, some are connected to WiFi home networks or smart environments and are autonomous to a high degree.

Applications of Robots-Industrial and Non-industrial

● Industrial application of robots is favoured because robots do not feel exhausted after repetitive work, their predictability, precision, reliability and ability to work in a relatively hostile environment such as toxic chemicals industries, assembly of explosives, deep sea, high altitude and mountainous terrains, cold climates and nuclear reactors.

● Industrial applications are:

○ Industrial deburring, die casting, fitting, forging, investment casting, plastic moulding, press working

○ Loading, unloading and movement of parts, machine loading and unloading, moving of parts

○ Welding and cutting-arc welding, spot welding, laser cutting, water jet cutting

○ Painting like spray painting and coating

○ Design and assembly-product dressing, assembly sequencing, inspection, layout analysis and evaluation assembly

○ Other processes-heat treatment, packing, palletising, stacking.

Examples of non- industrial applications are:● Use in marine exploration, ● Use in space exploration, ● Use in farm work, ● Use in helping the disabled, ● Use in lab work, ● Use in mining, ● Use in nuclear work, ● Use in security guarding, ● Use in microsurgery.

Automobile Industry:

● Industrial Robots have speed, accuracy, reliability & endurance due to which they are widely employed in the automobile industry.

● Tasks such as welding, spray painting, material handling & assembling can be performed easily by an industrial robot than a human.

● A new industrial revolution is in the offing due to rapid progress in the area of robotics, computer intelligence sensors and information & communication tech.

Electronics Industry:

● Robots can help in the mass production of PCBs (printed circuits boards), in removing tiny electronics components from strips and trays and in placing them on PCBs with great accuracy.

● Such robots can assemble several components per second far outperforming a human in terms of speed, accuracy & reliability.

Urban mobility:

● New technologies like Google's driverless cars and RFID tagged number plates using robotics paves way for new approaches to traffic control, intelligent, environmentally sound and integrated urban mobility solutions.

In Military:

● Unmanned aerial vehicles can be used to perform a dangerous task in faraway or inaccessible places.

● They can allow the army to search terrain and even fire on targets without endangering those using it.

● Packbot are being used in Iraq & Afghanistan by US Military to defuse roadside bombs or improvised explosive devices.

● It is designed for use by warfighters and first responders to carry out dangerous missions in high-threat battlefield scenarios.

In Medicine:

● A doctor can perform telesurgery on a patient even though she/he is not physically present in the same location.

● Robots can also help in minimally invasive surgery which avoids open invasive surgery in favour of closed or local surgery with less trauma.

● Robotic surgery has benefits like less blood loss which lowers the need for blood transfusion, smaller incision which reduces pain and recovery time and lesser incidents of post surgical complication.

Space Exploration:

● Autonomous Robots can perform the desired task in space without continuous human guidance.

● Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) an unmanned spacecraft can act as Lander on extraterrestrial bodies.

● Robotic space probes can operate in the vacuum of space withstanding exposure to radiation extremes of temperature.

Agriculture:

● Robots help in extensive farming and make it possible to do agriculture in rugged, harsh terrain areas.

● They make ploughing, sowing, harvesting and threshing faster, efficient and accurate.

● They can easily weed out pests and unwanted herbs and there is no need to use a chemical pesticide, herbicide etc.

● Robots can also prevent invasion of wild stray animals in the field.

● Drones can help in effective monitoring of the crops.

Disaster management

● Drones can help in delivering food packets and relief material in disaster affected areas.

In Environment:

● Nanorobots can be used to clear oil spills and reduce the impact of non-biodegradable pollutants.

Surveillance

● Drones can also be useful in surveillance of streets at night, national borders, high building, surveillance of maoist areas, forests or mountains which are unapproachable.

Advantages of Robots● Robots produce more accurate and greater quantity of work in a shorter

duration. Thus, they have higher productivity than humans when it comes to industrial applications.

● They can work at a constant speed with no breaks.

● They can work in hazardous conditions, such as poor lighting, toxic chemicals, or tight spaces. Thus, they can save humans from working in the toxic environment.

● They are capable of lifting heavy loads without injury or tiring.

Disadvantages of Robots

● Maintenance of robots is essential for their continued functioning and hence maintenance costs can be higher.

● The initial procuring of robots is expensive.

● Robots that are being deployed currently, cannot replace human intelligence or experience.

● Automation results in the loss of jobs. This is one of the biggest concerns of deploying robots instead of humans.

Humanoids Developed in India

Manav-

● India’s first 3D-printed humanoid robot.

● It can walk, talk and dance on the given commands.

Mitra-

● It is indigenously developed and is sufficiently capable of interacting with humans.

● It was launched in the Global Entrepreneur Summit conference in 2017.

Robocop-

● It is a police robot that has been developed for mainly security purpose.

● It has been developed to assist law, order and traffic management.

● It can also diffuse bombs.

Daksha-

● It is developed by the DRDO.

● It has been developed to detect and recover Improvised Explosive Devices.

● It has been using by the Indian Army since 2011.

Kempa-

● It is deployed at the Bengaluru airport to facilitate the passengers in two languages - Kannada and English.

● It will provide flight information and check-in details.

RADA-

● Like Kempa, it is also developed for the passengers for a better experience at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi.

IRA (Intelligent Robotic Assistance)-

● It has been developed to help the customers in their banking affairs within the HDFC Bank branch.

Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)● Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), popularly known as Drone, is an

airborne system or an aircraft operated remotely by a human operator or autonomously by an onboard computer.

● UAVs are currently used for a number of missions that are very dangerous for humans to perform.

● While they originated mostly in military applications, their use is rapidly expanding to commercial, scientific, recreational, agricultural, and other applications, such as policing, peacekeeping, and surveillance, product deliveries, aerial photography, agriculture, smuggling, and drone racing.

Issues with UAVs● Drones with cameras can record people engaged in their personal activities

thus posing a big threat to individual privacy.

● Terrorists can use drones to reconnaissance sensitive areas and plan their attack. They can also interfere with Aviation.

● Drones in civilian areas can cause damage to people and property in case of any malfunctioning.

● The airspace over Indian cities already has a high density of aircraft traffic and unregulated use of drones poses a grave threat for air collisions and accidents.

Draft Guidelines for Civil UAV

● Announced by the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation).

● All UAVs except those in Nano category and those operated by government security agencies need to get a Unique Identification Number (UIN) issued from DGCA.

● UAVs operating above 200 feet above ground level will require Unmanned Aircraft Operator Permit (UAOP) DGCA.

● International operations of civil UAS (flying across territory) and/or over water shall be strictly prohibited.

● UIN to be granted to an Indian citizen or a company whose chairperson and two-thirds of its directors are Indian citizens.

● UAVs can’t be imported, sold or disposed of without permission from DGCA.

Centre for Artificial Intelligence and ROBOTICS (CAIR), Bengaluru

● Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (CAIR) was established in Oct 1986.

● Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics [CAIR] is a premier laboratory of DRDO involved in Research and Development in the areas of Artificial Intelligence, Robotics, Command and Control, Networking, Information and Communication Security leading to the development of Mission Critical products for battlefield communication and management systems.

● Its research focus was initially in the areas of Artificial Intelligence (Al), Robotics, and Control systems.

● In November 2000, R&D groups working in the areas of Command Control Communication and Intelligence (C3I) systems, Communication and Networking, and Communication Secrecy in Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) were merged with CAIR.

● With this, CAIR has become the premier laboratory for R&D in different areas in Information and Communication Technology (ICT) as applicable to Defence.

CAIR Vision Statement

● “Adding value to information. Enabling battlespace dominance”

CAIR Mission Statement● "To add value to information by delivering dependable information systems

to the Defence services for battlespace dominance, by developing domain & technologies that ensure reliability, security, safety, resiliency, survivability and trustworthiness, enabling the use of these systems in mission critical applications with required guaranties of assured performance."

● Currently, basic and applied research at CAIR covers the following areas: ○ Logic programming, ○ Knowledge- based systems, ○ Neural networks, ○ Robotics, vision, control systems and learning theory.

Thank You!