Editing Robot (section)

==== Nanorobots ====
{{further|Nanorobotics}}[[Nanorobotics]] is the [[emerging technology]] field of creating machines or robots whose components are at or close to the microscopic scale of a [[nanometer]] (10<sup>−9</sup> meters). Also known as "nanobots" or "nanites", they would be constructed from [[molecular machine]]s. So far, researchers have mostly produced only parts of these complex systems, such as bearings, sensors, and [[synthetic molecular motors]], but functioning robots have also been made such as the entrants to the Nanobot Robocup contest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.techbirbal.com/viewtopic.php?p=3687&sid=7faaeeb64eaf84880b23755fea7fa7cd |title=Nanobots Play Football |publisher=Techbirbal |access-date=8 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130403180057/https://www.techbirbal.com/viewtopic.php?p=3687&sid=7faaeeb64eaf84880b23755fea7fa7cd |archive-date=3 April 2013 }}</ref> Researchers also hope to be able to create entire robots as small as viruses or bacteria, which could perform tasks on a tiny scale. Possible applications include micro surgery (on the level of individual [[cell (biology)|cells]]), [[utility fog]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=/articles/art0220.html |title=KurzweilAI.net |date=21 June 2010 |access-date=5 July 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100621142011/http://www.kurzweilai.net/meme/frame.html?main=%2Farticles%2Fart0220.html |archive-date=21 June 2010 }}</ref> manufacturing, weaponry and cleaning.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Chapter_11.html |title=(Eric Drexler 1986) Engines of Creation, The Coming Era of Nanotechnology |publisher=E-drexler.com |access-date=8 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140906190853/http://e-drexler.com/d/06/00/EOC/EOC_Chapter_11.html |archive-date=6 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Some people have suggested that if there were nanobots which could reproduce, the earth would turn into "[[grey goo]]", while others argue that this hypothetical outcome is nonsense.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.crnano.org/Debate.htm|publisher=Center for Responsible Nanotechnology|title=Of Chemistry, Nanobots, and Policy|date=December 2003|access-date=28 October 2007|first=Chris|last=Phoenix|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011132926/http://crnano.org/Debate.htm|archive-date=11 October 2007|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2004/06/040609072100.htm |website=ScienceDaily |title=Nanotechnology pioneer slays 'grey goo' myths|date=9 June 2004}}</ref>