Visualization of foglet with arms retracted and extended

Diagram of a 100-micrometer foglet

Utility fog is a hypothetical collection of tiny robots, envisioned by Dr. John Storrs Hall while he was thinking about a nanotechnological replacement for car seatbelts. The robots would be microscopic, with extending arms reaching in several different directions, and could perform lattice reconfiguration. Grabbers at the ends of the arms would allow the robots (or foglets) to mechanically link to one another and share both information and energy, enabling them to act as a continuous substance with mechanical and optical properties that could be varied over a wide range. Each foglet would have substantial computing power, and would be able to communicate with its neighbors. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... John Storrs Hall is regarded as one of the most significant thinkers in the field of molecular nanotechnology. ... Buckminsterfullerene C60, also known as the buckyball, is the simplest of the carbon structures known as fullerenes. ... A three-point seat belt. ...

The idea of nanobotic swarms was detailed as early as in 1964 by Stanislaw Lem in the novel The Invincible. The title given to this article is incorrect due to technical limitations. ... The Invincible is a science fiction novel written by Stanisław Lem and published in Polish in 1964. ...

In the original application as a replacement for seatbelts, the swarm of robots would be widely spread-out, and the arms loose, allowing air flow between them. In the event of a collision the arms would lock into their current position, as if the air around the passengers had abruptly frozen solid. The result would be to spread any impact over the entire surface of the passenger's body. This is a concept similar to in function, though different in detail, to that of the "crash field" presented in Larry Niven's science fiction short story "The Soft Weapon" (1967), and is also similar in function to the inertial dampers of Star Trek and other science fiction series. This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Inertial compensators, or inertial dampers (as they are more often called) are fictional devices aboard starships in some science fiction series, including Star Trek, Star Wars and Stargate. ... The current Star Trek franchise logo Star Trek is an American science fiction entertainment series and media franchise. ...

Utility fog is sometimes thought of as a nanotechnological version of the Swiss Army Knife. A Swiss army knife with its implements in various stages of extension A Swiss Army knife (SAK), (German: , French: ) is a multi-function pocket knife or multitool. ...

While the foglets would be micro-scale, construction of the foglets would require full molecular nanotechnology. Each bot would be in the shape of a dodecahedron with 12 arms extending outwards. Each arm would have 4 degrees of freedom. When linked together the foglets would form an octet truss. The foglets' bodies would be made of aluminum oxide rather than combustible diamond to avoid creating a fuel air explosive. Molecular nanotechnology (MNT) is the concept of engineering functional mechanical systems at the molecular scale. ... A dodecahedron is any polyhedron with twelve faces, but usually a regular dodecahedron is meant: a Platonic solid composed of twelve regular pentagonal faces, with three meeting at each vertex. ... In mechanical engineering, aeronautical engineering and robotics, degrees of freedom (DOF) describes flexibility of motion. ... Simplified space frame roof with the nearest unit polygon hightlighted in blue A space frame is a truss-like, light weight rigid structure constructed from interlocking struts in a geometric pattern. ... Aluminium oxide (or aluminum oxide) (Al2O3) is a chemical compound of aluminium and oxygen. ... This article is about the gemstone. ... Thermobaric weapons distinguish themselves from conventional weapons by using atmospheric oxygen, instead of carrying an oxidizer in their explosives. ...

In the postcyberpunk comic series Transmetropolitan, there are a race of beings known as foglets. Through a complicated technical process, their consciousness is transferred into a cloud of billions of foglet robots - a process they see as stripping away their biological limitations and leaving them with only personal amusement. They can spread themselves so thin they seem invisible, and come together as a pink cloud of dust with digital faces when they wish to be seen. This article or section is missing references or citation of sources. ... Transmetropolitan is a postcyberpunk comic book series written by Warren Ellis with art by Darick Robertson and published by DC Comics. ...

A suggestion was made by Jim Al-Khalili that the chameleonic external surface of a TARDIS could be composed of utility fog in the programme "How To Make A Tardis", broadcast as part of the nostalgic Doctor Who Night on BBC2 late in 1999. Jim Al-Khalili (born 20 September 1962) is a British theoretical nuclear physicist, academic, author and broadcaster. ... The current TARDIS prop as seen at the BBC Wales reception in 2005. ...

External links

• Utility Fog: The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of Dr. Hall's original writeup (This link is dead as of 4-13-2007. Consider for later deletion.)
• Article at KurzweilAI.net: The Stuff that Dreams are Made Of
• What I want to be when I grow up, is a cloud J. Storrs Hall
• On Certain Aspects of Utility Fog by Dr. J. Storrs Hall
• LEGOs (TM) to the Stars
• Utility Fog at Nanotech Now, many links.