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214 Biomimetics: Biologically Inspired Technologies

(a)

(b)

Figure 7.9 (Step 3) (a) Basic bio-nanorobot forming a small swarm of five robots. The spatial arrangement of the
individual bio-nanorobot will define the arrangement of the swarm. These swarms could be re-programmed to
form bindings with various other types of robots. The number of robots making a swarm will be determined by
the mission. Such swarms will attach additional bio-nanorobots at run time and replace any non-functional ones.
(b) A basic bio-nano computational cell. This will be based on one of the properties of the biomolecules, which is
‘‘reversibility.’’

swarms could be programmed for more than one energy source and hence would have an ability to
perform in an alternate environment. Energy management, self-repairing, and evolving will be
some of the characteristics of these swarms.

7.3.2 Design Architecture for the Bio-Nanorobotic Systems

(a) Modular Organization: Modular organization defines the fundamental rule and hierarchy for
constructing a bio-nano robotic system. Such construction is performed through stable integration
(energetically in the most stable state) of the individual ‘‘bio-modules or components’’, which
constitute the bio-nanorobot. For example, if the entity ABCD defines a bio-nanorobot having some
functional specificity (as per the Capability Matrix defined in Table 7.1) then A, B, C, and D are said
to be the basic bio-modules defining it. The basic construction will be based on the techniques of
molecular modeling with emphasis on principles such as energy minimization on the hypersurfaces