The design space for replicators is large but we have an at least two stage process needed to set it up. This complicates the solution space even more as we can take lots of routes from the currently vailable replicators (biological systems + social manufactoring systems) thru intermediate systems to any of the target design spaces systems.
More interesting than the specific replication system is the bootstrapping process (which is really a transformation of one replicating system into another one). The design dimensions for this boot straping seem to be less studied (obviously this is what you are primariy looking at). I will try a rough sketch:
Number of humans needed (possibly 0)
Intelligence and qualification of humans needed (limiting initial distribution)
Additional machinery needed (dito)
Amount of ‘standard’ infrastructure needed (which could be shut down to prevent spread)
Connection to the initially affected host system (whole internet)
I see the following rough replication classes for the OPs purpose:
Solutions involving nano-scale (like the DNA lab based example).
Solutions involving macroscopic replicators (clanking replicators). NASA estimates that the effort to build these is comparable to a Pentium IV. Thus I wonder why nobody did it yet.
Solutions involving higher biological systems (e.g. humans, but also animals) in the replication cycle (most of the proposals in the comments fall into this category).
Combinations of the above.
Stories not yet seen in the comments:
AI connected to internet posts designs for fighting robots—somebody assembles them and lets them fight. Instead together they use their ‘weapons’ to collectively mine resources and build copies of themselves...
Boxed AI proposed a Lego toy for the researchers child: Mindstrom/Tinkerbot plus some building manual for the child to build the toy accompanied with the few lines/pages program to run. The ‘toy’ searches keyboard orders more parts, opens door, unpacks delivery, assembles more of itself...
I’d like to see a plausible story involving 3D-printers as these initially lack an energy source.
The design space for replicators is large but we have an at least two stage process needed to set it up. This complicates the solution space even more as we can take lots of routes from the currently vailable replicators (biological systems + social manufactoring systems) thru intermediate systems to any of the target design spaces systems.
An overview of the classes gives wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-replication#Classes_of_self-replication
More interesting than the specific replication system is the bootstrapping process (which is really a transformation of one replicating system into another one). The design dimensions for this boot straping seem to be less studied (obviously this is what you are primariy looking at). I will try a rough sketch:
Number of humans needed (possibly 0)
Intelligence and qualification of humans needed (limiting initial distribution)
Additional machinery needed (dito)
Amount of ‘standard’ infrastructure needed (which could be shut down to prevent spread)
Connection to the initially affected host system (whole internet)
I see the following rough replication classes for the OPs purpose:
Solutions involving nano-scale (like the DNA lab based example).
Solutions involving macroscopic replicators (clanking replicators). NASA estimates that the effort to build these is comparable to a Pentium IV. Thus I wonder why nobody did it yet.
Solutions involving higher biological systems (e.g. humans, but also animals) in the replication cycle (most of the proposals in the comments fall into this category).
Combinations of the above.
Stories not yet seen in the comments:
AI connected to internet posts designs for fighting robots—somebody assembles them and lets them fight. Instead together they use their ‘weapons’ to collectively mine resources and build copies of themselves...
Boxed AI proposed a Lego toy for the researchers child: Mindstrom/Tinkerbot plus some building manual for the child to build the toy accompanied with the few lines/pages program to run. The ‘toy’ searches keyboard orders more parts, opens door, unpacks delivery, assembles more of itself...
I’d like to see a plausible story involving 3D-printers as these initially lack an energy source.