Self replicating box
(wiki-TODO: add simple illustrative image -- conceptual general (maybe the one from Ralph Merkle) and explicit for the two example cases)
A cuboid boy with dimensions X>Y>Z can be oriented such that
an incrementally built copy of that box with same dimensions can be extruded out.
This is done by extruding the smallest Y*Z face through the biggest face X*Y rotatedly such that
- Y and X lines up (with Y<X)
- Z and Y lines up (with Z<Y)
Note that this works for all size scales!
Smallest scales
It was initially a concept for ultra compact self replication in
the now outdated concept of molecular assemblers.
Bigger scales
It is a natural way to do macroscale self-replication of gem-gum factories such
that there is no need to resort to complex schemes for folding and unfolding of nanofactories.
As for now it is rather unclear how big of a fraction of a nanofactory chip will be necessary
for full self replicative capability. How big a self replicative nanofactory pixel will be.
