Robert Freitas

Last updated
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)
OccupationNanotechnologist
Spouse
Nancy
​
(m. 1974)​
Awards Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (2009)
Scientific career
Fields Nanotechnology
Website www.rfreitas.com

Robert A. Freitas Jr. (born 1952) is an American nanotechnologist.

Contents

Early life and education

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]

Career

Freitas interests include nanorobotics, [3] how nanotechnology can extend the life of humans, [4] self-replicating machines, [5] and Cryonics. [1]

Figure 5.29.-- proposed demonstration of simple robot self-replication in "Advanced Automation for Space Missions" Advanced Automation for Space Missions - Cover.png
Figure 5.29.— proposed demonstration of simple robot self-replication in "Advanced Automation for Space Missions"

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]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Wolf, Aschwin de (21 June 2022). "Alcor Member Profile: Robert A. Freitas Jr". Alcor - Life Extension Foundation - Cryonics. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ↑ Templeton, Graham (May 10, 2017). "'Xenology' by Robert Freitas: the Backstory". Inverse. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  3. ↑ "Lifeboat Foundation Interview: Robert A. Freitas Jr". Lifeboat Foundation. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. ↑ Boeing, Niels (20 April 2006). ""Die Medizin wird digital"". MIT Technology Review (in German). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ↑ "Interview with Robert Freitas". Nanotech.biz. 18 February 2006. Archived from the original on 13 December 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ↑ Freitas, R.A. Jr. (April 1984). "Xenopsychology". Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact . 104: 41–53.
  7. ↑ Advanced Automation for Space Missions (PDF). NASA.gov: NASA Scientific and Technical Information Branch. 1982. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ↑ Freitas, R. A. Jr.; Gilbreath, W. P. (4 September 2013). "Advanced Automation for Space Missions". NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. ↑ "IJCAI'81: Proceedings of the 7th international joint conference on Artificial intelligence - Volume 2". Guide Proceedings. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. ↑ Peterson, Chris (31 January 2000). "Foresight Update 38 Page 2". foresight.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "Robert A. Freitas Jr, Senior Research Fellow". Institute for Molecular Manufacturing. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  12. ↑ "Book review of Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines by Robert A. Freitas, Jr. and Ralph C. Merkle. Artificial Life Journal. 2006 Winter;12(1):187-188" . Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  13. ↑ "Socio/intellectual patterns in nanoscale research: Feynman Nanotechnology Prize laureates, 1993-2007. Social Science Information 2010;49:615-638" . Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  14. ↑ "Freitas awarded first mechanosynthesis patent". Foresight Institute. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  15. ↑ Andrew, Alex M. (2000). "NANOMEDICINE, VOLUME 1: BASIC CAPABILITIES, by Robert A. Freitas Jr., Landes Bioscience, Austin, Texas, 1999, xxi + 509 pp., ISBN 1-57059-645-X Index". Robotica. 18 (6). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 687–689. doi:10.1017/s0263574700212824. ISSN   0263-5747.

Bibliography

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.