Comment on Is it theoretically possible to construct a self reproducing mechanical device?
sunsofold@lemmy.zip 1 week ago
If your definition of ‘device’ includes biological machines, that’s us and basically everything else we call ‘living.’
If you mean purely mechanically, as in with just cogs, levers, etc? Maybe hypothetically? But probably not really. If you ignore a lot of elements it might be conceivable to design a factory that uses mechanical computing to produce and manipulate stock materials being fed into it, but mechanical things are notoriously finicky when it comes to tolerances, so it’d probably take on too much entropy somewhere and wouldn’t be able to repair itself.
If you allow electronic computers and actuators, it gets easier, but it’s still extremely difficult to the point of practical impossibility to build any system capable of self-maintenance and self-calibration, let alone one that can fully produce every part of itself.
enchantedgoldapple@sopuli.xyz 1 week ago
This post focuses on developing a purely mechanical device for the given purpose. Also it does not need to repair itself, it can sustain wear and tear as mentioned in constraint 6. It only needs to be able to create at least one copy that matches it structurally and functionally as stated in constraint 1 and 2.
sunsofold@lemmy.zip 1 week ago
I think one of the most interesting questions that underlies this would be whether there is a material with correct properties to handle the mechanical forces necessary to perform mechanical computation to allow something like CNC and whether that system could then be complex/simple enough to assemble itself. It might be possible, but I don’t know enough about mechanical computing to even have a hunch.
Einskjaldi@lemmy.world 1 week ago
If you make it simple, all you need to do is have it be yes you can if there is at least one instance where it could work. So your question is too vague, if you want something that can make a hole in dirt or build a car you have a very different concept. And if you want something actually functional it will need a computer and if you can just slot in a compact system on a chip but have it be otherwise self assembling with assuming it’s in a warehouse full of parts then the answer is yes. But you’re really just talking about can you have a set of equipment bundled together and the answer is petty much always that having special dedicated equipment in designated areas works better with assembly line production in a full scale factory. Sadly the point of a entirely self replicating device is really just the romantic aspect of pure efficency. But it’s beaten as always by boring economic factors.