Mechanical Self-replication
Ralph P. Lano
TL;DR
The paper presents a theoretical framework for mechanical self-replication inspired by cellular processes, building on von Neumann's concepts of a constructor, copier, and control automata. It decomposes replication into modular machines built from a small set of block types and encodes construction instructions via codon-tRNA-RNA encoding described by a Machine Description Language (MDL). Key contributions include the design of patterns (Conveyor, Walker, Redirect, 1-to-2 Converter, Matcher, Back-and-Forth), and the implementation of core machines (Stick-Maker, Copier, Builder, Decoder, Recycler, Sorter, Jacquard) that collectively perform sorting, copying, and building. The work provides a foundational framework for programmable matter and information-processing self-replication, highlighting constraints, timing, and scalability, and points to future exploration of automaton C, fault tolerance, and disassembly for practical realizations.
Abstract
This study presents a theoretical model for a self-replicating mechanical system inspired by biological processes within living cells and supported by computer simulations. The model decomposes self-replication into core components, each of which is executed by a single machine constructed from a set of basic block types. Key functionalities such as sorting, copying, and building, are demonstrated. The model provides valuable insights into the constraints of self-replicating systems. The discussion also addresses the spatial and timing behavior of the system, as well as its efficiency and complexity. This work provides a foundational framework for future studies on self-replicating mechanisms and their information-processing applications.