Von Neumann probes: feasible or not, now?

Recently, a robot called Philae soft-landed quite safely onto the comet 67P/Churyumov"“Gerasimenko, then shot some photos and got some other interesting information that was sent back to Earth. This unveiled my curiosity, regarding our current technology and what is possible to do with it, now.

Specifically, my question is in the title. Do we have technology and knowledge sufficient for making Von Neumann probes, i.e. self-replicating population of machines that can perform all tasks necessary for full replication, including extraction and processing of raw materials into working machine components and assembling them into new machines. It is allowed for a machine to perform specific tasks (i.e. each machine does not have to be omnipotent relatively to the replication process or any other process).

New instructions may be passed to these robots when necessary.

It does not need to be nanoscale. Actually, any scale is desirable, as long as "it works". Scale of machines may be modified later.

Efficiency (in a very broad sense) is not a problem, as long as "it works", and can be increased later because time is not a problem.

Energy shall not be a problem, relying on renewable energy in the long-run.(edit: as has been pointed out in answers, solar-powered probes seems not be an option far from sun. Then, what ?)

Such a "thing" may be put to good use down on earth, but it could also be sent into space and, given enough time, slowly colonize the entire solar system, using solar energy as primary source of energy for example, but maybe harvesting chemical energy and materials from asteroids, comets and possibly other planets and satellites.

While asking whether it is possible or not to do it with our current technology and knowledge, I don't mind about whether it is useful or not.

I don't mind about money nor time necessary to make it real.

I just want to know whether it is possible or not, and why ?

If you think and answer that, "yes", we may do it now, any -- ordered if possible -- list of potential current technology useful/necessary for making all of this real is welcome.

Don't hesitate to edit (but keep a trace of) my text if you feel it would improve its understandability.

posted almost 10 years ago

Rodolphe‭

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