Robert Freitas | |
---|---|
Born | Robert A. Freitas Jr. 1952 (age 72–73) Camden, Maine, U.S. |
Education | Harvey Mudd College (BSc) Santa Clara University School of Law (JD) |
Occupation | Nanotechnologist |
Spouse | Nancy (m. 1974) |
Awards | Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (2009) |
Scientific career | |
Fields | Nanotechnology |
Website | www |
Robert A. Freitas Jr. (born 1952) is an American nanotechnologist.
Freitas was born in Camden, Maine. His father worked in agriculture, and his mother was a homemaker. Freitas married Nancy, his childhood sweetheart, in 1974. [1]
In 1974, Freitas earned a bachelor's degree in physics and psychology from Harvey Mudd College. In 1978, he received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He has written over 150 technical papers, book chapters, and popular articles on scientific, engineering, and legal topics. [2]
Freitas interests include nanorobotics, [3] how nanotechnology can extend the life of humans, [4] self-replicating machines, [5] and Cryonics. [1]
Freitas introduced the concept of "sentience quotient" in the late 1970s. [6]
In 1980, Freitas and William Gilbreath were participants in a NASA study regarding "Advanced Automation for Space Missions," [7] and presented the feasibility of self-replicating machines in space, using advanced artificial intelligence and automation technologies. [8] [9]
Freitas began writing his Nanomedicine book series in 1994. [10] Volume I was published in October 1999 by Landes Bioscience while Freitas was a Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing. Volume IIA was published in October 2003 by Landes Bioscience. [11]
In 2004, Freitas and Ralph Merkle coauthored and published Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines, a comprehensive survey of the field of physical and hypothetical self-replicating machines. [12]
In 2009, Freitas was awarded the Feynman Prize [13] in theoretical nanotechnology. Afterwards, he was granted the first patent for a mechanosynthesis tool, which he developed while working at Zyvex. The tool is theoretically to be used in molecular engineering. [14] [15]