Spectrum of pathways

Direct path

Typically: Start with better materials then scaling system complexity.

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★ Early nanosystem pixel (direct path) (proposed by the author of this wiki)
Related concepts:
– 2D rail-frame based distributed modular pick-place assembly system
– RepRec pick-and-place robots (GemGum)

Direct path leaning mixed path

Soft nanotech sprinkled into hard nanotech. See page: Mixed path

Incremental path leaning mixed path

Hard nanotech sprinkled into soft nanotech. See page: Mixed path
See pagges: Stiffness focusing & Foldamer technology stiffness nesting

[Incremental path]] and Mixed path

Typically: Start by scaling system complexity then go to better materials.

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Most true to that order are:

• Foldamer robot approach (incremental path)
• Protein carpentry (just protein focus with this one)

Most liberal approach:

• Modular molecular composite nanosystem (proposed by Eric Drexler - multi foldamer technology)

Weakening the concept of "mechanosynthesis" to the logical limit:

• Mechanosynelf assembly assemblinting system (proposed by the author of this wiki)

A questionably viable shortcut.
By far not a "molecular assembler" (further below) but
a monolithic unit and more than just an assembly stage.

• Foldamer printer approach (incremental path) (proposed by Eric Drexler)

The foldamer printers kinematic loop compressed down to the minimum and border of recognizability. Also an attempt to squeeze a sellable product into the purely structural foldamer robot approach.

• Catalysis construction kit approach

Same as catalysis constuction kit approach but just binding as an easier sub problem.

• Functional block construction kit approach (was focus of OpenNano Starup - unfortunately ended)

Dead ends

In place mechanosynthesized ultra compactly self replicating proto-assembler (outdated).
All proposals that are in essence basically the same proto-assembler idea. Even if tacked to a surface. <vr> As so e.g. is present with: "Primitive Nanofactory Design by Chris Phoenix - October 2003"
See page: Discussion of proposed nanofactory designs

Synthetic biology when taken true to it's name.
I.e. aiming to mimicking life life like diffusion transport dominated soft nanotech.
When hard focused on just that and noting else.

The Catalysis construction kit approach and to lesser degree but still the Functional block construction kit approach. The kinematic loop is too tight for the early primitive foldamer materials not allowing for proper separation of concerns and one is head on running into the fat finger problem and the Positional assembly redundancy blockade.

Related

• Pathways to advanced APM systems
• Bootstrapping methods for productive nanosystems
• Mixed path