nanobots
Tiny programmable automatons
Nanobots are microscopic robots, typically imagined at the scale of molecules or cells.
The concept comes from nanotechnology—engineering at the nanometer scale.
In science fiction, nanobots swarm through bloodstreams to repair tissue or assemble structures atom by atom.
Real-world research pursues similar goals, though practical nanobots remain largely theoretical: Nanobots could someday deliver drugs directly to cancer cells.
Billionth-meter dimension
- nanitesMolecule-sized autonomous machines
- microbotsMicroscopic programmable machines
- assemblersThose who construct things
- self-replicatingAble to duplicate autonomously
microscopic · fabrication · sensors · actuators · programmable · nanoelectronics · microfabrication · swarm
Of tiny particles
- micromachiningManufacturing at microscopic scales
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
- calibrationAdjusting for measurement accuracy
fine-tuning · accuracy · control · targeted · exactness · delicacy · intricacy · steadiness
Administering medicine to body
- diagnosticsMethods identifying problems
- bloodstreamFlow through vessels
- surgeryInvasive medical procedure
- immunotherapyDisease treatment via body's defenses
oncology · cancer-treatment · biosensors · biocompatibility · regeneration · implants · neurology · cardiology
Able to duplicate autonomously
- BorgCybernetic collective species
- cyborgOrganic-mechanical hybrid entity
- nanoprobesSubmicroscopic investigative devices
- singularityPoint where values explode
sci-fi · transhumanism · Crichton · replicators · dystopian · utopian · augmentation · enhancement
Constructing from components
- manufacturingIndustrial product creation
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
- constructionProcess of building something
repair · disassembly · automation · production · decontamination · recycling · synthesis · coating
nanoscale
Billionth-meter dimension
- nanitesMolecule-sized autonomous machines
- microbotsMicroscopic programmable machines
- assemblersThose who construct things
self-replicating · microscopic · fabrication · sensors · actuators · programmable · nanoelectronics · microfabrication · swarm · manipulation
molecular
Of tiny particles
- micromachiningManufacturing at microscopic scales
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- dexteritySkillful hand coordination
calibration · fine-tuning · accuracy · control · targeted · exactness · delicacy · intricacy · steadiness · alignment
drug-delivery
Administering medicine to body
- diagnosticsMethods identifying problems
- bloodstreamFlow through vessels
- surgeryInvasive medical procedure
immunotherapy · oncology · cancer-treatment · biosensors · biocompatibility · regeneration · implants · neurology · cardiology · antibodies
self-replicating
Able to duplicate autonomously
- BorgCybernetic collective species
- cyborgOrganic-mechanical hybrid entity
- nanoprobesSubmicroscopic investigative devices
singularity · sci-fi · transhumanism · Crichton · replicators · dystopian · utopian · augmentation · enhancement · cyberpunk
assembly
Constructing from components
- manufacturingIndustrial product creation
- fabricationDeliberately untrue statement
- self-assemblySpontaneous structural organization
construction · repair · disassembly · automation · production · decontamination · recycling · synthesis · coating · inspection
- nanobotsnanite, nanites, nanoswarm, nanoprobe, nanodevice
- sci-fi techteleporter, time travel, cryonics, force fields, time machine
- sci-fi medicinehypospray, regeneration, med bay, bioscan, tricorder
- nanotechnologynanoparticles, carbon nanotube, carbon nanotubes, nanotubes, fullerene
- microbotsmicrobots, micromachines, micro drone, microdrone, microdrones
- Nanodevicesnanosensors, nanoprobes, molecular switches
nanobotsmechs
Piloted fighting machines
megastructures · industrial machinery · heavy equipment · construction vehicles · battleships
nanobotsprimitive tools
Simple early-era instruments
steam engines · clockwork · hand tools · simple machines · stone tools
nanobotsmechs
Piloted fighting machines
industrial robots · heavy machinery · construction equipment · kaiju · Transformers