Nanoscience and Nanotechnology: A Review of Research in the Field of Nanorobotics - Biologically Inspired Nanorobots, Nanomanipulation, Nanosoldering, Nanotweezers

This report highlights the findings of an extensive review of the literature in the area of nanorobotics. The main goal of this effort is to survey and identify accomplishments and advancements that have been made in this relatively new and emerging field. As a result, it may be determined what routes in the area of nanorobotics are scientifically plausible and technically useful so that the Intelligent Systems and Robotics Center can position itself to play a role in the future development of nanotechnology.

CHAPTER 1 * INTRODUCTION * 1.1 Nanotechnology * 1.2 Nanorobotics * 1.3 Organization of the Report * CHAPTER 2 * BIOLOGICALLY INSPIRED NANOROBOTS * 2.1 Biological Molecular Machines * 2.1.1 Myosin, Kinesin, and Dynein Motor Proteins * 2.1.2 Flagella Motors * 2.2 Theoretical Design, Control, and Simulation * CHAPTER 3 * ROBOTIC NANOMANIPULATION * 3.1 Electron Microscopy * 3.1.1 Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) * 3.1.2 Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) * 3.2 Scanning Probe Microscopy (SPM) * 3.2.1 Scanning Tunneling Microscope (STM) * 3.2.2 Atomic Force Microscope (AFM) * 3.3 Nanomanipulation with the SPM * 3.4 Manipulation of Atoms * 3.5 Manipulation of Nanoparticles * 3.6 Manipulation of Carbon Nanotubes * 3.7 Manipulation of Biological Materials * 3.8 Nanoscale Gripping * 3.8.1 Optical Tweezers * 3.8.2 Nanotweezers * 3.8.3 Dielectrophoresis * 3.9 Joining Nanostructures * 3.9.1 Nanosoldering * 3.9.2 Nanowelding * 3.9.3 Gluing * 3.9.4 Sintering * 3.9.5 Chemical Bonding * 3.10 Cutting Nanostructures * 3.10.1 Mechanical Cutting * 3.10.2 Electron Ablation * CHAPTER 4 * THE ZYVEX NANOMANIPULATION SYSTEM * 4.1 The Zyvex S100 Nanomanipulator * 4.2 Preliminary Testing * CHAPTER 5 * CONCLUSION * 5.1 Summary * 5.2 Recommendations for Future Work * CHAPTER 6 * REFERENCES