Planetary Resource Automata are autonomous robotic systems designed to mine and process asteroid materials for the purpose of creating computational substrates on a galactic scale.
The challenge of establishing sustainable and scalable space-based computational infrastructure without the need for frequent resupply from Earth or other planets.
These automata operate as self-replicating von Neumann probes that use in-situ resource utilization (ISRU) techniques to extract, refine, and fabricate materials directly from asteroids. They then convert these resources into functional components for computing infrastructure, essentially turning asteroids into computational substrates.
Manufacturing involves developing self-replicating probes capable of ISRU. The process includes designing modular components that can be assembled on-site, as well as creating robust software to manage probe operations and resource allocation.
The build process begins with the creation of initial seed probes equipped with a variety of tools for mining, refining, and assembling materials. These probes then replicate themselves using local resources, gradually expanding their network until they cover an entire asteroid or cluster of asteroids.
Field units draw low hundreds of watts; fabrication is energy-intensive due to vacuum baking and material processing. The overall energy efficiency depends heavily on the specific technologies used for ISRU and manufacturing.
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