Danijel Rebolj
University of MariborFaculty of Civil Engineering
Construction IT Centre
Nano-to-meter-scale Building
(nanoBuilding) concepts &
requirements
Nanometer : meter = marble : Earth
Nanotechnology (NT) is the study of the control of matter on an atomic scale
NT is a prooven method for growing things - nature does it successfuly for billions of years
myosin, a bio-robot
What is nano?
Research motivation
Building industry produces lots of waste consumes lots of resources is not very effective
Adequate housing not affordable for
1.6 billion peopleNT potentials
Research goals
Considering the potentials of carbon nanomaterials nanorobotics and nanofabrication bioengineering and synthetic biology
design top-down nano-to-meter-scale building concepts
formulate requirements for the NT bottom-up research & start cooperation
Carbon nanomaterials
Carbon nanotubes (CNT) can have extraordinary characteristics 100x strength of steel electrical conductivity transparency variable colour
which can be combined and achived by design
Nanorobotics
A possible way to go: use of minuscule objects from DNA (TU München)
Bioengineering
Self-assembly through cooperation of intrinsically programmed cells
Amorphous programmingBacteria could be
programmed to buildCarbon nanotubes
nanoBuilding concept
Bionanorobots extract C from CO2 from the air build CNT in form of 3D array with
required characteristics using light
as external source of energy, and to recive instructions by interpreting
different wavelenghts
input: 3D model
Specific wavelengthsinstruct nanorobots what type of CNT to build
Light projector
ground plan 0
ground plan 0
nanorobot coating
Instruction:- build CNM slicewith high bearingstength
Instruction:- build CNM slicewith high bearingstength
Instruction:- build pipe wall CNT with lowfriction
All utilities arebuilt-in (pipes,shafts, wires,...)
Temporary supporting CNT material, which dissolves after the buildingprocess is finished
The building is risingslice by slice...
nanoBuilding concept
nanoBuilding process
1. detailed 3D solid modeling2. adding supporting structures
(preparing model for nano-production)
3. site preparation4. building & control5. dissolving of temporary
supporting structures
nanoBuilding process
1. 3D solid modeling define detailed solid geometry define parts of the model (3D
areas), with specific material properties (strength, friction, conductivity) to form utility systems (like water system, sewer system, electrical instalations, communication system etc.)
nanoBuilding process
2. adding supporting structures / volumes for all parts without vertical material connection to the ground)
nanoBuilding process
3. site preparation excavation to level 0 of the building setup building equipment – the
projector
nanoBuilding process
4. building & control planting of nanoroborts onto the
ground plan starting the projection creating carbon nano materials continuously until the top of the
building is reached
nanoBuilding requirements
Bionanorobots powered by light, able torecognize different wavelengths and
compiling them into instructionscompose CNT with required
characteristics (strength, conductivity)
using C from CO2 from the air
Conclusion
The question is not if (bio)nanotehnology can meet the defined requirements, but when.
The proof of concept exists!