Hypothetical technology

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Hypothetical technology is technology that does not exist yet, but that could exist in the future. [1] This article presents examples of technologies that have been hypothesized or proposed, but that have not been developed yet. An example of hypothetical technology is teleportation.

Contents

Artificial general intelligence

Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a hypothetical artificial intelligence that demonstrates a human-like ability to learn. AGI is a machine which could do all human activities with the efficiency of a machine. It is a primary goal of artificial intelligence research and a common topic among science fiction writers and futurists. Artificial general intelligence is also referred to as strong AI, [2] full AI [3] or one that has the ability to perform "general intelligent action". [4] AGI is associated with traits such as consciousness, sentience, sapience, and self-awareness, which are observed in living beings.

Mind uploading

Whole brain emulation (WBE) or mind uploading (sometimes called mind copying or mind transfer) is the hypothetical process of copying mental content (including long-term memory and "self") from a particular brain substrate and copying it to a computational or storage device, such as a digital, analog, quantum-based, or software-based artificial neural network. The computational device could then run a simulation model of the brain information processing, such that it responds in essentially the same way as the original brain (i.e., indistinguishable from the brain for all relevant purposes) and experiences having a conscious mind. [5] [6] [7]

Mind uploading may potentially be accomplished by at least two methods: Copy-and-Transfer or Gradual Replacement of neurons. In the former method, mind uploading would be achieved by scanning and mapping the salient features of a biological brain, and then by copying, transferring and storing that information state into a computer system or another computational device. [8] [9] [10] [11] [12] The simulated mind could be within a virtual reality or simulated world, supported by an anatomic 3D body simulation model. Alternatively, the simulated mind could reside in a computer that's inside (or connected to) a humanoid robot or a biological body. [13]

Space flight

There are many forms of spaceflight that have been proposed that have not, so far, been developed but are thought to be possible. Some, like the space elevator are under active development.[ citation needed ] Others, like Project Orion, a nuclear bomb propulsion system, are entirely paper exercises. As it happens, Orion is thought to be entirely achievable with existing technology (the obstacles to it are environmental and political rather than technological), [14] whereas the space elevator depends on the development of a material for the cable with a very high specific strength. [15]

Space elevator

A space elevator is a proposed type of space transport system. [16] Its main component is a ribbon-like cable (also called a tether) starting at or near a planetary surface and extending into space. It is designed to permit vehicle transport along the cable directly into space or orbit without the use of large rockets. An Earth-based space elevator would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end in space beyond geostationary orbit (35,800 km altitude). The competing forces of gravity, which are stronger at the lower end, and the outward/upward centrifugal force, which is stronger at the upper end, would result in the cable staying up under tension, and stationary over a single position on Earth. Once deployed, the tether would be ascended repeatedly by mechanical means to orbit, and descended to return to the surface from orbit. [17]

On Earth, with its relatively strong gravity, current technology is not capable of manufacturing tether materials that are sufficiently strong and light enough to build a space elevator. However, recent concepts for a space elevator are notable for their plans to use carbon nanotube or boron nitride nanotube-based materials as the tensile element in the tether design.

Rotating skyhook

The rotating skyhook, or momentum-exchange tether, is an idea related to the space elevator concept. It is one of the many proposed applications of space tethers, which include some propulsion systems. The tether is rotated from a heavy orbiting vehicle such that the far end, weighted with a docking station, periodically enters Earth's atmosphere. With the right timing, a fast aircraft can transfer cargo and passengers during the brief time the skyhook is at the bottom of its cycle and stationary relative to Earth's surface. [18]

Light sail

A light sail is a proposed propulsion system that uses the momentum transferred to a sail by light impinging on it. A light sail could use sunlight to achieve interplanetary travel without carrying large quantities of onboard fuel. Just as a sailboat on Earth can tack into the wind, the light sail can be tacked against the direction of light for a return journey from the outer planets. [19]

At the beginning of the 21st century, light sails were still entirely hypothetical. The Japanese IKAROS spacecraft was launched in 2010 as a proof-of-concept mission for the light sail. It successfully completed a fly-by of Venus using a light sail as its main means of propulsion.

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Interplanetary spaceflight</span> Crewed or uncrewed travel between stars or planets

Interplanetary spaceflight or interplanetary travel is the crewed or uncrewed travel between stars and planets, usually within a single planetary system. In practice, spaceflights of this type are confined to travel between the planets of the Solar System. Uncrewed space probes have flown to all the observed planets in the Solar System as well as to dwarf planets Pluto and Ceres, and several asteroids. Orbiters and landers return more information than fly-by missions. Crewed flights have landed on the Moon and have been planned, from time to time, for Mars, Venus and Mercury. While many scientists appreciate the knowledge value that uncrewed flights provide, the value of crewed missions is more controversial. Science fiction writers propose a number of benefits, including the mining of asteroids, access to solar power, and room for colonization in the event of an Earth catastrophe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spacecraft propulsion</span> Method used to accelerate spacecraft

Spacecraft propulsion is any method used to accelerate spacecraft and artificial satellites. In-space propulsion exclusively deals with propulsion systems used in the vacuum of space and should not be confused with space launch or atmospheric entry.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space elevator</span> Proposed type of space transportation system

A space elevator, also referred to as a space bridge, star ladder, and orbital lift, is a proposed type of planet-to-space transportation system, often depicted in science fiction. The main component would be a cable anchored to the surface and extending into space. An Earth-based space elevator would consist of a cable with one end attached to the surface near the equator and the other end attached to a counterweight in space beyond geostationary orbit. The competing forces of gravity, which is stronger at the lower end, and the upward centrifugal force, which is stronger at the upper end, would result in the cable being held up, under tension, and stationary over a single position on Earth. With the tether deployed, climbers (crawlers) could repeatedly climb up and down the tether by mechanical means, releasing their cargo to and from orbit. The design would permit vehicles to travel directly between a planetary surface, such as the Earth's, and orbit, without the use of large rockets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Solar sail</span> Space propulsion method using Sun radiation

Solar sails are a method of spacecraft propulsion using radiation pressure exerted by sunlight on large surfaces. A number of spaceflight missions to test solar propulsion and navigation have been proposed since the 1980s. The first spacecraft to make use of the technology was IKAROS, launched in 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mind uploading</span> Hypothetical process of digitally emulating a brain

Mind uploading is a speculative process of whole brain emulation in which a brain scan is used to completely emulate the mental state of the individual in a digital computer. The computer would then run a simulation of the brain's information processing, such that it would respond in essentially the same way as the original brain and experience having a sentient conscious mind.

Hans Peter Moravec is an adjunct faculty member at the Robotics Institute of Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, USA. He is known for his work on robotics, artificial intelligence, and writings on the impact of technology. Moravec also is a futurist with many of his publications and predictions focusing on transhumanism. Moravec developed techniques in computer vision for determining the region of interest (ROI) in a scene.

Orion's Arm is a multi-authored online science fiction world-building project, first established in 2000 by M. Alan Kazlev, Donna Malcolm Hirsekorn, Bernd Helfert and Anders Sandberg and further co-authored by many people since. Anyone can contribute articles, stories, artwork, or music to the website. A large mailing list exists, in which members debate aspects of the world they are creating, discussing additions, modifications, issues arising, and work to be done.

Artificial general intelligence (AGI) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that matches or surpasses human capabilities across a wide range of cognitive tasks. This is in contrast to narrow AI, which is designed for specific tasks. AGI is considered one of various definitions of strong AI.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Skyhook (structure)</span> Proposed momentum exchange tether

A skyhook is a proposed momentum exchange tether that aims to reduce the cost of placing payloads into low Earth orbit. A heavy orbiting station is connected to a cable which extends down towards the upper atmosphere. Payloads, which are much lighter than the station, are hooked to the end of the cable as it passes, and are then flung into orbit by rotation of the cable around the center of mass. The station can then be reboosted to its original altitude by electromagnetic propulsion, rocket propulsion, or by deorbiting another object with the same kinetic energy as transferred to the payload.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lunar space elevator</span> Proposed transportation system

A lunar space elevator or lunar spacelift is a proposed transportation system for moving a mechanical climbing vehicle up and down a ribbon-shaped tethered cable that is set between the surface of the Moon "at the bottom" and a docking port suspended tens of thousands of kilometers above in space at the top.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Megastructure</span> Very large artificial object

A megastructure is a very large artificial object, although the limits of precisely how large vary considerably. Some apply the term to any especially large or tall building. Some sources define a megastructure as an enormous self-supporting artificial construct. The products of megascale engineering or astroengineering are megastructures.

A momentum exchange tether is a kind of space tether that could theoretically be used as a launch system, or to change spacecraft orbits. Momentum exchange tethers create a controlled force on the end-masses of the system due to the pseudo-force known as centrifugal force. While the tether system rotates, the objects on either end of the tether will experience continuous acceleration; the magnitude of the acceleration depends on the length of the tether and the rotation rate. Momentum exchange occurs when an end body is released during the rotation. The transfer of momentum to the released object will cause the rotating tether to lose energy, and thus lose velocity and altitude. However, using electrodynamic tether thrusting, or ion propulsion the system can then re-boost itself with little or no expenditure of consumable reaction mass.

This is a list of occurrences of space elevators in fiction. Some depictions were made before the space elevator concept became fully established.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Non-rocket spacelaunch</span> Concepts for launch into space

Non-rocket spacelaunch refers to theoretical concepts for launch into space where much of the speed and altitude needed to achieve orbit is provided by a propulsion technique that is not subject to the limits of the rocket equation. Although all space launches to date have been rockets, a number of alternatives to rockets have been proposed. In some systems, such as a combination launch system, skyhook, rocket sled launch, rockoon, or air launch, a portion of the total delta-v may be provided, either directly or indirectly, by using rocket propulsion.

Three basic approaches for constructing a space elevator have been proposed: First, using in-space resources to manufacture the whole cable in space. Second, launching and deploying a first seed cable and successively reinforcing the seed cable by additional cables, transported by climbers. Third, spooling two cables down and then connecting the ends, forming a loop.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space tether missions</span> Space technology using tethers

A number of space tethers have been deployed in space missions. Tether satellites can be used for various purposes including research into tether propulsion, tidal stabilisation and orbital plasma dynamics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Space tether</span> Type of tether

Space tethers are long cables which can be used for propulsion, momentum exchange, stabilization and attitude control, or maintaining the relative positions of the components of a large dispersed satellite/spacecraft sensor system. Depending on the mission objectives and altitude, spaceflight using this form of spacecraft propulsion is theorized to be significantly less expensive than spaceflight using rocket engines.

A space elevator is a theoretical system using a super-strong ribbon going from the surface of the Earth to a point beyond Geosynchronous orbit. The center of gravity of the ribbon would be exactly in geosynchronous orbit, so that the ribbon would always stay above the anchor point. Vehicles would climb the ribbon powered by a beam of energy projected from the surface of the Earth. Building a space elevator requires materials and techniques that do not currently exist. A variety of Space Elevator competitions have been held in order to stimulate the development of such materials and techniques.

References

  1. ↑ Andersen, David; Dawes, Sharon (1991). Government Information Management: A Primer and Casebook. Prentice Hall. p. 125.
  2. ↑ Kurzweil, Ray (2005), The Singularity is Near, Viking Press, p. 260 or see Advanced Human Intelligence where he defines strong AI as "machine intelligence with the full range of human intelligence."
  3. ↑ "Redirecting". tedxtalks.ted.com.
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ A framework for approaches to transfer of a mind's substrate
  6. ↑ GOERTZEL, BEN; IKLE', MATTHEW (1 June 2012). "INTRODUCTION". International Journal of Machine Consciousness. 04 (1): 1–3. doi:10.1142/s1793843012020015.
  7. ↑ COALESCING MINDS: BRAIN UPLOADING-RELATED GROUP MIND SCENARIOS
  8. ↑ Koene, Randal A. (1 June 2012). "Fundamentals of Whole Brain Emulation: State, Transition and Update Representations". International Journal of Machine Consciousness. 04 (1): 5–21. doi:10.1142/s179384301240001x.
  9. ↑ "Is mind uploading existentially risky? (Part One)". ieet.org.
  10. ↑ "uploading - Technoprogressive Wiki". ieet.org. Archived from the original on 2014-01-03. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  11. ↑ NON-DESTRUCTIVE WHOLE-BRAIN MONITORING USING NANOROBOTS: NEURAL ELECTRICAL DATA RATE REQUIREMENTS
  12. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2014-03-31.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  13. ↑ Sandberg, Anders; Boström, Nick (2008). Whole Brain Emulation: A Roadmap (PDF). Technical Report #2008-3. Future of Humanity Institute, Oxford University. Retrieved 5 April 2009. The basic idea is to take a particular brain, scan its structure in detail, and construct a software model of it that is so faithful to the original that, when run on appropriate hardware, it will behave in essentially the same way as the original brain.
  14. ↑ George Dyson, Project Orion: The True Story of the Atomic Spaceship, Henry Holt and Company, 2003 ISBN   0805072845.
  15. ↑ Nicola Pugno, "A review of the design of superstrong carbon nanotube or graphene fibers and composites", ch. 18 in, Mark Schulz, Vesselin Shanov, Zhangzhang Yin (eds), Nanotube Superfiber Materials, William Andrew (Elsevier), 2013 ISBN   1455778648.
  16. ↑ "What is a Space Elevator?". www.isec.org. April 11, 2012. Archived from the original on December 18, 2013. Retrieved March 31, 2014.
  17. ↑ Edwards, Bradley Carl. The NIAC Space Elevator Program. NASA Institute for Advanced Concepts
  18. ↑
    • Michel van Pelt, Space Tethers and Space Elevators, p. 53, Springer, 2009 ISBN   0387765565.
    • Patrick Barry, "A little physics and a lot of string", pp. 24-29 in, Ray Villard (ed), Changes Within Physical Systems And/or Conservation of Energy and Momentum, The Rosen Publishing Group, 2005 ISBN   1404204040.
  19. ↑ Colin R. McInnes, Solar Sailing: Technology, Dynamics and Mission Applications, Springer, 2013 ISBN   1447139925.
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