[M.D. Holloway]

Nanobots - Uses in Medicine and Industry - Engineering and Drawbacks

An emerging branch of technological research, designing and constructing nanobots will have incalculable implications in science and industry. Also known as nanorobots, nanites, or nanomachines, these devices are in the development phase and only primitive nanomachines have been tested.

The term nano describes a length of measurement equal to one-billionth of one meter which is approximately the width of 10 atoms. The resulting miniature robotic machines may be as small as a few molecules in length or width.

Although the genesis of the term nanobots is unclear, two descriptions may apply.

First, a nanorobot is a device, synthetic or biological, that is able to function on a near atomic level and perform a preprogrammed task.

A less restrictive description would be a device that facilitates interaction on a nanoscale level. Rather than only describing an infinitesimally small machine, this characterization would include a scanning tunneling microscope and other similar microscopes that can be used to manipulate nanoscale structures.