Research scorecards
From Wise Nano
This scorecard is intended to be used to determine which nanotech research is relevant to molecular manufacturing and which is not. It may be instructive to test NSF-sponsored nanotech research against this standard.
General-purpose manufacturing scorecard
Molecular manufacturing is intended to be a general purpose technology, capable of building a wide range of products including duplicate manufacturing systems. This questionnaire is not specific to nanoscale or molecular manufacturing. But any manufacturing research that scores low on this questionnaire is probably not very relevant to molecular manufacturing.
1) Blueprint delivery: How rapidly can information can be delivered from a computer to the manufacturing process?
- A) Less than 100 bytes/second = 0 points
- B) More than 100 bytes/second = 10 points
- C) More than 10 KB/second = 20 points
- D) More than 1 MB/second = 40 points
2) How big is the equipment relative to the product features (linear dimension)?
- A) More than 1,000,000 times bigger = 0 points
- B) Less than 1,000,000 times bigger = 10 points
- C) Less than 10,000 times bigger = 20 points
- D) Less than 100 times bigger = 40 points
3) What capabilities can be built into the product? (Select all that apply.)
- A) Actuators = 10 points
- B) Sliding surfaces (bearings) = 10 points
- C) Digital logic = 10 points
- D) Maintenance of precision (so the as-manufactured product is at least as precise as the manufacturing system) = 10 points
4) Does the chosen approach produce intricate, precise, engineered structures?
- A) No structures = 0 points
- B) Imprecise, simple, or emergent structures = 10 points
- C) Structures with 100-10,000 precisely placed features = 20 points
- D) Structures with more than 10,000 precisely placed features = 40 points
5) How automated is the process?
- A) Requires constant human attention = 0 points
- B) Some aspects are automated = 10 points
- C) Set it and forget it = 20 points
6) Does it produce products of equivalent size, intricacy, functionality, and precision?
- A) No = 0 points
- B) Only for simple specialized products = 10 points
- C) Yes, for general-purpose or programmable manufacturing = 20 points
- D) Yes, capable of manufacturing equivalent/duplicate manufacturing systems = 40 points
7) What is the level of organization/completion of the product?
- A) Materials = 0 points
- B) Devices = 10 points
- C) Systems = 20 points
- D) Entire products = 40 points
Scoring:
0-60 points: The work is not very relevant to general-purpose manufacturing.
70-120 points: The work may be relevant, and may develop an enabling technology.
130-200 points: The work is likely relevant and may significantly advance the field.
210-260 points: The work is highly relevant and may produce breakthrough capabilities.
