A friend of mine who is a patented inventor named Steve Bridgers has a patent for a modular construction system called INCA.
This stands for Inter Nodal Connector Architecture.
First of all, look at his patent here:
https://patents.google.com/pat…itecture&q=Steve+Bridgers
INCA is based on the tensegrity geodesic structures of Buckminster Fuller, and the fullerene molecule.
It is not material dependent; Steve showed myself and others that macroscopic materials and mesoscopic materials, such as bamboo, polymers, steel, anything that can be somewhat rigid, can be used.
However, his real dream, and our real goal, is to achieve what this forum is all about: Self Replicating, Exponential Manufacturing Nano technology with atomic precision control over the molecules.
We want the molecular assembler as you all do.
Here is some more info and links:
https://www.facebook.com/INCAnautChallenge/
You can see some of the basic designs and diamondoid-inspired structures made with this.
The idea is to take carbon wires such as fullerene nanotubes and make these systems:
Series of interlocking nodes, tubes, springs, that can be used to build super strong and flexible as well as lightweight structures.
Electrical, Optical, and other systems can be coupled to the mechanical systems to make smart, shape-changing active materials.
All feedback on this is welcomed.
One of the big plusses with the INCA system as the bootstrap for MNT is this: It is based on the curvature we see in the biological and natural world. Look at the spirals and curved structures in nature, such as in DNA helixes and protein chains and more.