Robert Freitas Explained

Robert Freitas
Birth Name:Robert A. Freitas Jr.
Birth Place:Camden, Maine, U.S.
Education:Harvey Mudd College
Santa Clara University School of Law (JD)
Occupation:Nanotechnologist
Awards:Feynman Prize in Nanotechnology (2009)
Fields:Nanotechnology

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.

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

Bibliography

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wolf . Aschwin de . Alcor Member Profile: Robert A. Freitas Jr. . Alcor - Life Extension Foundation - Cryonics . 21 June 2022 . 11 May 2023.
  2. Web site: Templeton. Graham. 'Xenology' by Robert Freitas: the Backstory. Inverse. May 10, 2017. 2020-08-27. en.
  3. Web site: Lifeboat Foundation Interview: Robert A. Freitas Jr . Lifeboat Foundation . 4 April 2010 . 11 May 2023.
  4. Web site: Boeing . Niels . "Die Medizin wird digital" . MIT Technology Review . 20 April 2006 . de . 11 May 2023.
  5. Web site: Interview with Robert Freitas . Nanotech.biz . 18 February 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20061213095655/http://www.nanotech.biz/i.php?id=robertfreitas . 13 December 2006 . live . 11 May 2023.
  6. Freitas, R.A. Jr. . April 1984 . Xenopsychology . . 104 . 41–53.
  7. Book: Advanced Automation for Space Missions . 1982 . NASA Scientific and Technical Information Branch . NASA.gov . 11 May 2023.
  8. Web site: Freitas . R. A. Jr. . Gilbreath . W. P. . Advanced Automation for Space Missions . NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS) . 4 September 2013 . 11 May 2023.
  9. IJCAI'81: Proceedings of the 7th international joint conference on Artificial intelligence - Volume 2 . Guide Proceedings . 11 May 2023.
  10. Web site: Peterson . Chris . Foresight Update 38 Page 2 . foresight.org . 31 January 2000 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210510073428/https://foresight.org/Updates/Update38/Update38.2.html#Interview . 10 May 2021 . 11 May 2023.
  11. Web site: Robert A. Freitas Jr, Senior Research Fellow . Institute for Molecular Manufacturing . 22 September 2007 . 11 May 2023.
  12. Web site: 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.. 2017-06-18.
  13. Web site: Socio/intellectual patterns in nanoscale research: Feynman Nanotechnology Prize laureates, 1993-2007. Social Science Information 2010;49:615-638.. 2017-06-18.
  14. Web site: Freitas awarded first mechanosynthesis patent . Foresight Institute . 12 April 2010 . 11 May 2023.
  15. Andrew . Alex M. . 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 . Cambridge University Press (CUP) . 18 . 6 . 2000 . 0263-5747 . 10.1017/s0263574700212824 . 687–689.

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