Incremental path

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Technology levels of the incremental path
Level 0 side products
Level I side products
Level II side products
Level III pre-products
products
maybe

In Appendix II of the book "Radical Abundance" [1] it is proposed to go through several levels of APM technology to reach advanced (atomic resolution & diamondoid) APM. These layers will serve as a rough guideline for the structuring of this Wiki. In "Nanosystems" [2] technology stages are mentioned beginning with section 16.5.2. (written before the emergence of structural DNA nanotechnology)

The recently developed self assembling structural DNA nanotechnology and similar reliably designable structures might be a good starting point from technology level 0. By introducing robotic (more precisely stereotactic) control one could reach something like a "block resolution robotic technology" technology level I from there in a first step. In a second step one could change to e.g. Pyrite or Silica technology level II as building material to increase structural stiffness, reduce vibration amplitudes and get thus more placing accuracy. And finally in a third step one could switch from fluid phase to vacuum so that carbon and silicon can be assembled technology level III.

This very crude temporal outline is by no means the only possible way to go. There may be shortcuts or other paths.
Note: The definition of atomic precision does not imply single-atomic manipulation. The derived term "APM" also tells nothing about product size. It is thus suitable for todays self assembly and all technology levels beyond 0. Advanced levels of APM though are capable of macromanufacturing of diamondoid structures with atomic resolution.

Note that the behavior of mobile electrons at the nanoscale is not as easily predictable as the behavior of mechanics at the same scale thus there's less exploratory engineering for nanoelectronics than nanomechanics. See non mechanical technology path and brownian technology path.

[Todo: improve article quality]

References

  1. Radical Abundance: How a Revolution in Nanotechnology Will Change Civilization - by K. Eric Drexler
  2. Nanosystems: Molecular Machinery, Manufacturing, and Computation - by K. Eric Drexler