Controlling the Galaxy with Von Neumann Probes

It ’s time to start out controlling the Galax urceolata , and the best tool for the chore is a ego - replicating probe . distance probes that can go fabulously long distances , duplicate themselves , and take things like surveillance devices or molecular foundries , are the brainchild of mid - 20th century fantast John Von Neumann . Often cry Von Neumann Probes , his invention fuels both science fiction and real - lifetime plans for space colonization . In some way , the Voyager spacecraft are rough , nonreplicating Von Neumann investigation , hurtling through space in the Bob Hope of making contact lens with another civilization . Over at Sentient Developments , George Dvorsky has written a great essay on the seven near ways to master the galaxy with Von Neumann Probes .

Dvorsky channelize out that there are decent thing you could do with probes , like using them for communicating as in the Bracewell Probe model . say Dvorsky :

Christopher Rose , an electrical engineer at Rutger ’s University , has suggested that we should actually look for these probe in our own Solar System . He argue we should be go over the chain armour or else of wait for a phone call .

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Multiple Bracewell probes could also be set up as a circulate raiment of communication relay race stations . Such a set - up was portrayed in Carl Sagan ’s Contact . In this story , a inactive Bracewell investigation was lying in wait in the Vega system . It began to transmit a strong signaling after it receive a radio signal from Earth . The twist itself was part of a larger internet of probe , as witness later by Ellie ’s journey from investigation to probe .

But I ’m more enamored of some of the more hardcore uses for probes , like build ringworlds with whatever matter is available in a adept system :

If we are going to embark on megascale engineering task , we ’re go to require robots . Lots of ’em . Projects like Dyson Spheres , Ringworlds and Alderson Disks would want fleet of specialized and artificially intelligent probe work in concert to construct these truly massive structure .

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Then there are uplift probes , which could land on a satellite and sow the local fauna with genes that might make them intelligent . Hell , why not make the botany reasoning ?

Probably the most truly hard-core investigation is the Berserker investigation , sort of an anti - terraforming gimmick , used to spread decease and end across the galaxy :

Berserkers could be circularise with the lonesome purpose of sterilizing every global system it chance , forever rule out the hypothesis for life to emerge and evolve . Should it encounter an inhabited planet , it could use any number of schemes , including nanotech instigated ecophagy , to speedily destroy all life in a thing of hours . By using a singe galaxy policy , a civilization could sterilize the Milky Way in about 500,000 year .

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Alternately , berserk probe could be disbursed across the intact Galaxy and lie in torpid , patiently waiting for mark of intelligence .

There ’s a circumstances more beneficial probing where those came from , so ensure out the quietus of Dvorsky ’s fantabulous debut to astronomic domination via probe .

Seven Ways to assure the Galaxy with Self - Replicating Probes[Sentient Developments ]

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