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Robert Freitas

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Robert Freitas
Born
Robert A. Freitas Jr.

1952 (age 71–72)
Camden, Maine, U.S.
EducationHarvey Mudd College
Santa Clara University School of Law (JD)
OccupationNanotechnologist
Spouse
Nancy
​
(m. 1974)​
AwardsFeynman Prize in Nanotechnology (2009)
Scientific career
FieldsNanotechnology
Websitewww.rfreitas.com

Robert A. Freitas Jr. (born 1952) is an American nanotechnologist.

Early life and education

Freitas was born in Camden, Maine. His father worked in agriculture and his mother was a homemaker. Freitas married Nancy, his childhood sweetheart in 1974.[1]

In 1974, Freitas earned a bachelor's degree in both physics and psychology from Harvey Mudd College, and in 1978, he received a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Santa Clara University School of Law. He has written more than 150 technical papers, book chapters, and popular articles on scientific, engineering, and legal topics.[2]

Career

Freitas interests include nanorobotics,[3] how nanotechnology can extend the life of humans,[4] self-replicating machines,[5] and Cryonics.[1]

Figure 5.29.— proposed demonstration of simple robot self-replication in "Advanced Automation for Space Missions"

Freitas introduced the concept of "sentience quotient" in the late 1970s.[6]

In 1980, Freitas and William Gilbreath were participants in a NASA study regarding "Advanced Automation for Space Missions",[7] and they presented the feasibility of self-replicating machines in space, using advanced artificial intelligence and automation technologies.[8][9]

Freitas began writing his Nanomedicine book series in 1994.[10] Volume I, published in October 1999 by Landes Bioscience while Freitas was a Research Fellow at the Institute for Molecular Manufacturing. Volume IIA was published in October 2003 by Landes Bioscience.[11]

In 2004, Freitas and Ralph Merkle coauthored and published Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines, a comprehensive survey of the field of physical and hypothetical self-replicating machines.[12]

In 2009, Freitas was awarded the Feynman Prize[13] in theoretical nanotechnology. Afterwards, he was granted the first patent for a Mechanosynthesis tool which he developed while working at Zyvex. The tool is theoretically to be used in molecular engineering.[14][15]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Wolf, Aschwin de (21 June 2022). "Alcor Member Profile: Robert A. Freitas Jr". Alcor - Life Extension Foundation - Cryonics. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  2. ^ Templeton, Graham (May 10, 2017). "'Xenology' by Robert Freitas: the Backstory". Inverse. Retrieved 2020-08-27.
  3. ^ "Lifeboat Foundation Interview: Robert A. Freitas Jr". Lifeboat Foundation. 4 April 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  4. ^ Boeing, Niels (20 April 2006). ""Die Medizin wird digital"". MIT Technology Review (in German). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  5. ^ "Interview with Robert Freitas". Nanotech.biz. 18 February 2006. Archived from the original on 13 December 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  6. ^ Freitas, R.A. Jr. (April 1984). "Xenopsychology". Analog Science Fiction/Science Fact. 104: 41–53.
  7. ^ Advanced Automation for Space Missions (PDF). NASA.gov: NASA Scientific and Technical Information Branch. 1982. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  8. ^ Freitas, R. A. Jr.; Gilbreath, W. P. (4 September 2013). "Advanced Automation for Space Missions". NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS). Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  9. ^ "IJCAI'81: Proceedings of the 7th international joint conference on Artificial intelligence - Volume 2". Guide Proceedings. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  10. ^ Peterson, Chris (31 January 2000). "Foresight Update 38 Page 2". foresight.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  11. ^ "Robert A. Freitas Jr, Senior Research Fellow". Institute for Molecular Manufacturing. 22 September 2007. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  12. ^ "Book review of Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines by Robert A. Freitas, Jr. and Ralph C. Merkle. Artificial Life Journal. 2006 Winter;12(1):187-188". Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  13. ^ "Socio/intellectual patterns in nanoscale research: Feynman Nanotechnology Prize laureates, 1993-2007. Social Science Information 2010;49:615-638". Retrieved 2017-06-18.
  14. ^ "Freitas awarded first mechanosynthesis patent". Foresight Institute. 12 April 2010. Retrieved 11 May 2023.
  15. ^ Andrew, Alex M. (2000). "NANOMEDICINE, VOLUME 1: BASIC CAPABILITIES, by Robert A. Freitas Jr., Landes Bioscience, Austin, Texas, 1999, xxi + 509 pp., ISBN 1-57059-645-X Index". Robotica. 18 (6). Cambridge University Press (CUP): 687–689. doi:10.1017/s0263574700212824. ISSN 0263-5747.

Bibliography

  • Robert A. Freitas Jr., Nanomedicine, Volume I: Basic Capabilities (Landes Bioscience, 1999) ISBN 1-57059-645-X
  • Robert A. Freitas Jr., Nanomedicine, Vol. IIA: Biocompatibility (Landes Bioscience, 2003) ISBN 1-57059-700-6
  • Robert A. Freitas Jr., Ralph C. Merkle, Kinematic Self-Replicating Machines (Landes Bioscience, 2004) ISBN 1-57059-690-5
  • Robert A. Freitas Jr., Nanomedicine: Biocompatibility (S Karger Pub, 2004) ISBN 3-8055-7722-2
  • Robert A. Freitas Jr., Cryostasis Revival: The Recovery of Cryonics Patients through Nanomedicine (Alcor Life Extension Foundation, 2022) ISBN 978-0-9968153-5-2
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