Microscopic robots

Crystalline nanopowders have improved the chemical, mechanical, optical and magnetic properties of materials. Harder ceramic materials, solar filters and catalysts used in environmental protection have been obtained [8]. In the near future microscopic robots may revolutionize industrial production [7-9] and may be used in interplanetary travels [10]. 

Fig. 8.28 External view of the MIMOS II sensor head without contact plate assembly (left) MIMOS II sensor head mounted on the robotic arm (IDD) of the Mars Exploration Rover. The IDD also carries the a-Particle-X-ray Spectrometer APXS, also from Mainz, Germany, for elemental analysis, the Microscope Imager MI for high resolution microscopic pictures ( 30 pm per pixel), and the RAT for sample preparation (brushing grinding drilling (< 1 cm depth)). Picture taken at Kennedy-Space-Center KSC, Florida, USA...

Corey has discussed the similarities and differences between synthetic and biological catalysts, coined the term chemzymes for the former, and discussed the connections between these microscopic catalysts and macroscopic robots. See Corey, E J. New Enantiose-lective Routes to Biologically Interesting Compounds Pure Appl. Chem 1990, 62,1209-1216. 

In this approach, NAs are directly deposited onto a glass support using a robot able to deliver with high precision a sample to a specific x y programmed location. The NA sample is loaded into a spotting pin (highly miniaturized stainless-steel fountain-pen nibs with a gap) by capillary action, and small volumes are transferred to a solid surface, such as a microscope slide, by direct physical contact between the pin and the solid substrate. Spot size depends on the acceleration of the pen towards and away from the slide, and the surface tension of the slide. After the first spotting cycle, the pin is washed and a second sample is then transferred to an adjacent address. A robotic control system and multiplexed print heads allow the automated immobilization of many different probes simultaneously onto the slide [29]. 

Others such as Macas et al. (1998) successfully adapted the Biomek 2000 (Beckman Coulter), a commonly used liquid handling robot, to prepare microarray slides using a specially constructed print head and quill pins. Up to 28 microscope slides could be placed on a work surface for printing. Biomek s HDRT head was adapted to accept microarray quill pins held between two parallel plates with holes drilled on 9-mm centers to dip into 96-well source plates. The quill pins were spring-loaded similar to the design... 

When a microscopic invader breaches the outer defenses of the body the immune system swings into action. This happens automatically. The molecular systems of the body, like the Star Wars anti-missile system that the military once planned, are robots designed to run on autopilot. Since the defense is automated, every step has to be accounted for by some mechanism. The first problem that the automated defense system has is how to recognize an invader. Bacterial cells have to be distinguished from blood cells viruses have to be distinguished from connective tissue. Unlike us, the immune system can t see, so it has to rely initially on something akin to a sense of touch. 

Biomolecular imaging Biosensors and biodetection Diagnostic and defense applications Endoscopic robots and microscopes Fullerene-based sensors Imaging (e.g., cellular)... 

Machine vision, also referred to as computer or robot vision, is a term that describes the many techniques by which machines visually sense the physical world. These techniques, used primarily for monitoring industrial manufacturing, are becoming increasingly popular as today s manufacturing environments become more automated and quality control standards increase. Whether the task is to sort and assemble a group of machined parts, to determine if a label has been placed properly on a soda bottle, or to check for microscopic defects in an automotive door panel, machine vision plays an essential role. 

The conception of the electrochemical robotic system was based on earlier instrumental developments aiming at the design of scanning electrochemical microscopes (SECM),79-81 however using a rather coarse positioning system and hence exhibiting limited scanning resolution. 

Preparation of DNA Microarrays In one method for prepar ing microarrays, a l -kb portion of the coding region of each gene analyzed is individually amplified by PCR. A robotic device is used to apply each amplified DNA sample to the surface of a glass microscope slide, which then is chemically processed to permanently attach the DNA sequences to the glass surface and to denature them. A typical array might contain 6000 spots of DNA in a 2 X 2 cm grid. 

Microscopic refers to objects that can be detected in common optical microscopes—they are microns (micrometers = 10 m) in dimension. Individual atoms are angstroms (10 ° m or 10 cm) in size. Large enough clusters of atoms form molecules or aggregates of molecules (such as viruses) that are tens of angstroms or nanometers (1 nm = 10 m) in scale. What if we could make computers, machines and even robots out of nanoscale parts Clearly, Nature has already mastered nanotechnology, why can t we ... 

The successful fusion of images acquired from different modalities or instruments is of great importance in many applications, such as medical imaging, microscopic imaging, remote sensing, computer vision, and robotics. 

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