Before people start shooting down this idea, I want to stress this idea is very possible and it doesn’t defy the law of physics. And because the idea is complex and lengthy I will try to give a very general picture without going into the details.
Nanobots 3D Display is the true 3D simulator that doesn’t rely on optical illusion.
The system consists of two main components; the nanobots as 3D pixels and the containment field.
A very crude and simple prototype can be built to demonstrate the feasibility of this technology. The prototype will consist of 8 nanobots, hence making it a 8 polygon-pixels in resolution. I used the term “nanobots” loosely here and they are actually much bigger. So a cubical shape nanobot with perhaps 0.5 cm in dimension will act like a pixel, like polygon in computer rendering. Each side of the cube is capable of generating light of different colors. This 8 polygon-pixels resolution prototype consists of 8 such nanobots that are capable of arranging themselves on command in space, and therefore simulating objects in 3D.
Now, the only problem is how to suspend the nanabots in mid-air. Suggestions are welcome here. Ideally, each bot should be able to float, propel and maneuver itself in a sealed air tank. It is not difficult to create maneuverable tiny machines however power supply is a huge problem. So one could imagine the bots will only work perfectly in zero G environment. And power can be transmitted via electromagnetic waves, encoded with coordinates, color and other information, so each bot will know what to do and how to behave.
Of course, like any other technology, it will only become better with R&D. Like Moore’s Law, hopefully nanobots will get smaller and resolution will increase from 8 to 27 to 64 to 125 and so on, every 18 months.
Here is a list of key technologies in order for the Nanobots 3D Display to work. (Don't have to read if its too long for you, the general idea has already been ditched out)
1. MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) : For creating small, intelligent maneuverable 3D pixels in real space.
2. Matter Suspension Technology : Zero G simulation? Perhaps precise magnetic suspension, liquid suspension perhaps??
3. Computational Power : We are doing fine in this department, but I can imagine we will need a substantial amount of it, if we have a swarm of these bots floating around, moving in real time. The complexity grows exponentially because each bot will need to “realize” its own location relative to the other bots.
4.Tracking : Sensors to track objects in space
5. Magic : That will help too.-- neoearth, Dec 27 2004 Shape Shifting Bots http://www.physorg.com/news1191.htmlHaha, guess its baked afterall [neoearth, Dec 27 2004] Should there be a central brain or no brain at all. http://www.wired.co...wn_story_page_next1Bots having their own intelligence to operate properly is a heated issue. [mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004] Hi Neoearth. I understand your idea. You have to give intelligence to the nanobots. I have a three pager that is unedited, to be be submitted here, on a similar idea. I took my own prototype and tried to hang every leading edge experiment on it. I called it a phanton on this site a few weeks ago. We were talking about phantom induced voltages and I made a typo but it explained a controlled photon. I went on to envision how to do it. I've already explained on this site how an LED is controlled by its personal photo-transistor. The LED responds to varying light.-- mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004 [mensmaximus] I am sorry I have no idea what are you talking about. A link perhaps?
As for giving intelligence to the nanobots, most of the computation will be done externally, and the information is beamed directly into the nanos.-- neoearth, Dec 27 2004 As I live in a rural location, I have seen swarming of various insects and small light birds. They don't seem to be hitting each other; your idea has more to do with this than some central controller.
Help section says you can't mention magic on this site as part of an idea. It has to be workable or a maybe a small part missing. You can't say a computer program will do that if it can't.-- mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004 I just realized this can aslo be called "Shape Shifting Technology" I always wonder if the liquid metal cyborg in T2 is feasible, I guess it is some what doable.-- neoearth, Dec 27 2004 There's a WIRED mag. article on liquid metal. I'll look for it.-- mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004 Physically recreating things (whether with nanobots or any other kind of magic technology) seems like a poor strategy for a display, 3D or otherwise.-- DrCurry, Dec 27 2004 Robots are already packing tires into a container in Japan tighter than any man/machine can do. That has to be also one of the the most physically demanding jobs there is. Even weight lifters quit after three days. So we have reached that point. What do you want the bots to do beyond this?-- mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004 Wired ran an article on mercury?-- bristolz, Dec 27 2004 Why do the pixels need to hover? Why not just have a solid cubic grid of transparent pixels that colorize themselves when needed?
Transparent conductors are readily available, so no radio/magnetic signals are needed.-- Aq_Bi, Dec 27 2004 [bristolz], yes apparently five million metric tonnes have slipped off of the desks of grade nine physics students over the years and we're runnin' low.-- mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004 The guy I bought this house from left a bottle of mercury hidden in the garage. A 2 fluid ounce bottle I think. Where do I send it?-- half, Dec 27 2004 I honestly did that myself, but it wasn't your house.-- mensmaximus, Dec 27 2004 half: either you go through quite a lot of expense finding a way to dispose of this hazardous material properly, or you sell it on eBay.-- DrCurry, Dec 27 2004 In retrospect, I think the nanabots will work better if they clump together to form the desire object, instead of floating in mid air.-- neoearth, Oct 10 2005 random, halfbakery