Can robot or a device be made that, given the requisite resources, could construct and assemble a functional copy of itself?

To entertain this hypothesis further, let’s add a set of explicit constraints or expectations:

  1. The copy must structurally match the original device as is realistically possible
  2. The device must be able to manufacture at least one copy of itself
  3. The overall replication process should sustain itself for an indefinite amount of iterations
  4. The device must not repurpose its own parts as parts for its copy
  5. The device must not peform any task other than replicating itself and preserving itself to be able to replicate
  6. The device may sustain damages of repairable or non-repairable nature as long as it obeys constraints 1 and 2
  7. The device may take as much time and resources as it needs to construct its copy as long as both remain finite
  8. The device may make use of essential external resources like electricity and cooling to sustain itself as long as its able to accommodate its copy to do the same

Can reproduction be emulated mechanically while obeying all the constraints above or is there a fundamental limitation stopping us from realising this concept? If so, what is it?

  • Einskjaldi@lemmy.world
    1·
    12 hours ago

    If you make it simple, all you need to do is have it be yes you can if there is at least one instance where it could work. So your question is too vague, if you want something that can make a hole in dirt or build a car you have a very different concept. And if you want something actually functional it will need a computer and if you can just slot in a compact system on a chip but have it be otherwise self assembling with assuming it’s in a warehouse full of parts then the answer is yes. But you’re really just talking about can you have a set of equipment bundled together and the answer is petty much always that having special dedicated equipment in designated areas works better with assembly line production in a full scale factory. Sadly the point of a entirely self replicating device is really just the romantic aspect of pure efficency. But it’s beaten as always by boring economic factors.