Nanotechnology
nanobots2.jpg

Nanotechnology is any technology revolving around objects on a scale of one to one hundred nanometers. For comparison, the diameter of a helium atom is 0.1 nanometers. As such nanotech forms the lower limit to the sizes of technological constructs. Nanotech constructs can be either construction materials such as nanotubes and other diamondoids, or nanomachines, which are often technically larger than 100 nm.

Advantages

Nano materials, especially diamondoids, have an extremely wide range of very useful properties, for example, nanotubes have the highest tensile strength of all known conventional materials. Meanwhile, diamond itself has the highest hardness of all known conventional materials.

Nanomachines, also known as nanobots, are nanoscale robots capable of working in places impossible to reach on larger scale. They are also often Neuman-capable.

Disadvantages

Nanomaterials have few disadvantages besides being difficult to make in some circumstances. Nano constructs and nanobots face bigger issues, however. Due to their extremely small size they must be highly specialised. A single type of nanorobot can only fufill an extremely limited number of tasks, there simply isn't enough room to fit in the tools, triggers and processes for anything else. Temperature differences can also be an issue, and many types of nanomachinery only work within a temperature range of less than 20 degrees kelvin.

Common uses

  • Many forms of space-based engineering use nanomaterials extensively, including spacecraft, space elevators and habitats.
  • Similarly, many forms of surface-based megastructures also uses nanomaterials, such as skyscrapers, starscrapers, pressure domes and bridges.
  • Nanobots are extensively used in colonial efforts due to their self-replication, allowing for large scale construction before more advanced industrial infrastructure can be established.
  • Nanobots also see extensive use in medical technology, as they are able to reach problem areas otherwise unaccesible without invasive surgery and are unlikely to trigger an immune response like many organic vectors.
  • Most forms of computing technology have reached scales that put them in the domain of nanotech, often using nanomaterials such as nanotubes.