Technical report

Topic:Nano Robotics

Abstract :
Nanorobotics being a promising research and development era has gained acute attention and
response from Govt. as well as industries. For long term future application; the characterization
and manufacturing techniques of Nano robots is yet to be much more developed. Apart from
biomedical applications its potential use in defense, automotive &aerospace, automation of
production industry,molecular chemistry, material science research and
electronics-communication engineering could be estimated to visualize its tremendous accuracy,
precession, smaller size, lesser weight, accessibility and efficiency. The Smaller the size the
larger are the specific surface area and energy efficiency. This is the prime concept behind all
micro or nanotechnology devices. Even though the nanobots have not yet been deployed in any
commercial application with currently available science and technology; the ongoing intensity of
research & development work tends to a brighter future where we expect number of miracles
with such tiny nanomachines. In this context a productive discussion has been carried out
concerned with the future application as well as past-present research scenario of nanorobotics.
A numerous examples have been cited about the work conducted by individual scientists,
engineers and different organizations. This review work expects a positive attention from its
future readers towards nanorobotics; one of the marvelous sub-areas of nanotechnology.

Introduction:
The term nanotechnology is self-explanatory. Research pertaining to molecular scale has been
attributed to nanotechnology so far. With increased demand of nanotechnology and related
material science, the definition for nanotechnology is being broadly modified day by day. To
classify the domain of such an outstanding research era for future; nanotechnology has been
defined as the research concerned with manipulation of materials sized from 1 to 100 nm at
least in one dimension. With the advent of smarter and superior materials nanotechnology has
left its footprint over several engineering and basic science sectors. Starting from
nanocomposite to nanomedicine, nanobiology, nanoelectronics,
Nano-electro-mechanical-systems and Nanorobotics; most of the high-tech researches are
being patronized by nanotechnology. Robotics is the technology which deals with designing,
manufacturing and handling of automated or manually operated machines (robots). Being one
of the powerful tools; now-a-days robotics is being adapted by various research as well as
industrial organizations to enhance and optimize their work. The remote sensing capability of
humanoid robots is getting popular these days to reduce risk from humans venturing into
hazardous work or research environments.
Other than remote operation, sensing, feedback, automation; miniaturization comes out to be
one of the precious contributions which is never expected to be left out from primary
considerations.In this regard, robotics being a potential sector for research and industrialization,
Nanorobotics has proven its worth. Nanorobotics can simply be defined as the miniaturization of
robots to the scale of 100-10000nm having components in the range of 1-100nm.Nevertheless;
the definition for Nanorobotics is not limited to nanomites, nanobots, nanoids and nanites. Any
robot or machine capable of manipulation or measurement in nanoscale could be incorporated
in the domain of Nanorobotics.

Research History:
Scientists and engineers have been trying to miniaturize the machines to perform critical
operations which are beyond the capacity of conventional machines or robots. This was the
prime motivation behind nanorobotics. Although medical application has been the leading
sensation to this research; different engineering and science spheres have never been obscure
to nanorobotics. Since its inception in late 1990s industries as well as defense organizations are
looking forward to its real-time applications in future. Billions of dollars have been invested in
various research projects worldwide to nourish such an incredible robot technology which could
change our way of living and redefine all sorts of scientific research. North-American and
European universities, defense laboratories, energy departments and aerospace industries
have focused their interest for development and characterization in this sector. Neurosurgery
being one of the most critical as well as sensitive surgeries needs lot of care and concern while
operating. The steadiness and accuracy of doctor’s hands play a key role for the success of
surgery. In spite of years of experience and dexterity; the surgeons are prone to some
unpredictable mistakes. To surpass this lacuna of human errors Professor Leo Joskowicz & his
group from Hebrew University of Jerusalem have invented miniaturized robots to perform
neurosurgery with precision in both positioning as well as targeting. Their robotic surgery
technology is capable of targeting the inner brain nerves automatically with the feedback based
image guided system. These nanobots are claimed to be self-guided with the installed program
for exact movement during surgery. Pre-operation tests i.e. CT scan etc. provide the accurate
data of brain structure from deep inside. This robot is fixed to the skull of patient with a head
clamp and then it orients itself to a locked & best preferable position. This could assist the
surgeons in way lot better than the existing technology.
Current and Future Application :
As discussed above, biomedical sector expects maximum benefit from nanobots. Protecting our
body cells from pathogens seems to be one of the precious implementations. Nanobots made of
diamond coating and fullerene nanocomposites parts shows inertness inside human body from
the immune systems. Successful simulation model of such nanobots are still waiting for practical
application in near future. Energy sources for such nanobots are expected to be bodily acoustic
vibration, metabolization of glucose cells. Nano computing devices installed onboard, function
as the navigators and signal transmitters. They help to distinguish between cells, orient their
way to desired organs, transmit feedbacks to doctors regarding the conditions of the cell and
receive commands from the operator to perform exact medication to that cell. Chemotactic nano
sensors chipped onto these nanobots analyze the surface antigen of the bio-cells and
distinguish between other nanobots and particular human cell (which needs medication). The
nanobots could be introduced inside body by mouth or nose pretty easily. When their job is over,
nanobots are designed to be extracted by active scavenger system or defused through our
excretory channels.

Market niche and Global Scenario: Nanotechnology being an

emerging sector for smarter future; a number of industries have shown their inclination towards
design, manufacturing and assembly of nanorobots. Such a revolution to make nanorobots hit
the market is yet in its inception phase. But the growth rate of investment in Nanorobotics by
several business and research corporations seems to be beneficial for mankind. Quantum
International Corporation, a Canadian company has gone too far and successfully discovered a
way of maneuvering tiny micro-scale robots inside blood vessels of living creatures. They claim
that with the help of magnetic coils inside a MRI machine these microbots would be guided
deep inside human body with onboard wireless-chip technology. The commercial use of such
robots is yet to take place because of delay in human testing. If succeed this can be a real time
solution for cancer treatment according to Quantum CEO Robert Federowicz. The company
expects the commercial market to respond their product with tremendous interest. Other than
Quantum Corporation, Intuitive surgical, iRobot Corporation, Dover Corporation etc. are some of
the surgical-pharmaceutical companies patronizing Nanorobotics. These organizations have
been active in the research & development of advanced robotics surgery and wireless based
remote control medical operation.

Conclusion:
Nanorobotics has so far proved its incredible future potential in various area i.e. medical,
surgery, defense, aerospace research, automotive, molecular manufacturing,
nanoelectronicsand micro/nano electro mechanical systems. Technologies like molecular
manufacturing, self-assembly, bottom up building are some of the cutting edge topics which hold
the rein to success for nanorobotics. Apart from just building biological molecules, real nano
scale robots made of smart materials with all possible dynamics and function must attract
industries from various sectors. The real time nanobots to hit the market would take couple of
years or decades. Ultimate goal could be achieved when a platform will be established on which
a living or nonliving molecular structure can interact with surroundings i.e. communicate through
RF signal, get energized by ambient heat or generate own power from decomposable products
(i.e. glucose) and have nano gears/bearings to manipulate each & every kind of job in that
scale. Other than just existence, nanobots must be durable enough to be trusted before sending
for any critical mission. Stability, accuracy, life cycle, performance, economy, cost of
manufacturing, design constraints, supporting high end technology are big concerns which tons
of scientists are working hard all around world. Feeding program is an easy way to maneuver
any autonomous device. In case of nanobots, the smaller size constrains no of onboard chips.
While being in operation nanobots need to be in constant feedback & guided command from the
operator. Transmissions of data as well as energy to and from the nanobots arepestering
facts.Work culture of nanorobotics entails all form of high end technologies on the same stage.
Extreme precision algorithm, durable smart material, efficient Nano-electro-mechanical systems
and ecofriendly molecular self-building bio organisms seems to be key aspects for any kind of
nanorobotics. The soaring interest for such a promising topic must be energized all through and
larger invests from pharmaceuticals as well as other industries should be acclaimed.

Reference:
1. A. Cavalcanti, B. Shirinzadeh et.al.; Nanorobots for Laparoscopic Cancer Surgery, 6th
IEEE/ACIS International Conference on Computer and Information Science (ICIS 2007),
0-7695-2841-4/07.
2. A. Cavalcanti, B. Shirinzadeh, R.A. Freitas Jr., L.C. Kretly; Medical Nanorobot Architecture
Based on Nanobioelectronics, Recent Patents on Nanotechnology, Bentham Science, Vol. 1,
no. 1, pp. 1- 10, Feb. 2007.
3. Cavalcanti, R.A. Freitas Jr.; Nanorobotics Control Design: A Collective Behavior Approach for
Medicine, IEEE Transactions on NanoBioScience, Vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 133-140, Jun. 2005.
4. A. Cavalcanti;Assembly Automation with Evolutionary Nanorobots and Sensor-Based Control
applied to Nanomedicine, IEEE Transactions on Nanotechnology, Vol. 2, no. 2, pp. 82-87, Jun.
2003.
5. Declan Murphy et.al.; Equipment and Technology in Robotics, Arch. Esp. Urol., 60, 4
(349-354), 2007
6. Kawasaki, E.S.; Player, A.;Nanotechnology, nanomedicine, and the development of new,
effective therapies for cancer. Nanomedicine: nanotechnology, biology & medicine, 101-109,
2005.
7. Y. Guo (ed.); Selected topics in micro/nano robotics for biomedical applications, Springer
Science + Business media, ISBN 978-1-4419-8410-4,New York, 2013
8. A. L. Yarin; Nanofibers, nanofluids, nanoparticles and nanobots for drug and protein delivery
systems, Scientia Pharmaceutica, doi:10.3797/scipharm.cespt.8.L02, 2010
9. A. Requicha, et.al.; Nanorobotics, NSF Nanoscale Science and Engineering Grantees
Conference, Dec 16-18, 2003
10. S. A. Maier, P. G. Kik, H. A. Atwater, S. Meltzer, E. Harel, B. E. Koel and A. A. G. Requicha;
Local detection of electromagnetic energy transport below the diffraction limit in metal
nanoparticle plasmon waveguides, Nature Materials, Vol. 2, No. 4, pp. 229-232, April 2003.