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<blockquote data-quote="Cleon" data-source="post: 6654993" data-attributes="member: 57383"><p>I'd assume said probe would be maintaining itself.</p><p></p><p>The thread was talking Von Neumann-type machines, if I recall.</p><p></p><p>Since such a machine contains instructions and equipment capable of replicating itself, presumably it won't require that much more work to give it the capability to replicate and replace damaged parts of itself. The simplest approach would likely to have the probe consist of multiple identical Von Neumann machines, and if one of them breaks down the others take it apart and rebuild it. You'd certainly need a decent degree of built-in redundancy so there's enough "working" parts to recognize and correct the "damaged" parts.</p><p></p><p>That probably falls into "technology we don't know how to do", but the same could be said for insterstellar generation ships.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Hmm...</p><p></p><p>The question is, what difference does it make if this interstellar vessel relies on a bunch of organic lifeforms or Von Neumann robots for its self-reproducing repair crew?</p><p></p><p>Arguably, assuming the latter is technically possibly, it's probable a lot better. Robots can be engineered without many of the properties that make living creatures less optimal for space travel.</p><p></p><p>If for some reason a living crew is just as efficient as a robot one, the problem of "cultural drift" may be a lot worse with the organics. The expedition would be pointless if the crew's society has changed so much it has no inclination to disembark at the generation ship's destination.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cleon, post: 6654993, member: 57383"] I'd assume said probe would be maintaining itself. The thread was talking Von Neumann-type machines, if I recall. Since such a machine contains instructions and equipment capable of replicating itself, presumably it won't require that much more work to give it the capability to replicate and replace damaged parts of itself. The simplest approach would likely to have the probe consist of multiple identical Von Neumann machines, and if one of them breaks down the others take it apart and rebuild it. You'd certainly need a decent degree of built-in redundancy so there's enough "working" parts to recognize and correct the "damaged" parts. That probably falls into "technology we don't know how to do", but the same could be said for insterstellar generation ships. Hmm... The question is, what difference does it make if this interstellar vessel relies on a bunch of organic lifeforms or Von Neumann robots for its self-reproducing repair crew? Arguably, assuming the latter is technically possibly, it's probable a lot better. Robots can be engineered without many of the properties that make living creatures less optimal for space travel. If for some reason a living crew is just as efficient as a robot one, the problem of "cultural drift" may be a lot worse with the organics. The expedition would be pointless if the crew's society has changed so much it has no inclination to disembark at the generation ship's destination. [/QUOTE]
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