Natwerk Designs

Is it possible for a machine to repair itself?

Suppose this machine exists: A droid-like machine designed to roam around. It does nothing of any use to anyone, other than entertainment... If one could be entertained by a machine that roams around aimlessly... Anyway, this machine has a light bulb on its highest point, this light blinks... A steady blink-blink-blink... This bulb goes out after a time, and the machine replaces the bulb on its own... Is this impossible?

Public Comments

1. Sure, unless the circuit that broke was the one that activates the self repair mechanism. Sounds like Wall-E. If the power supply is good and the circuit intact, the machine can operate that circuit. I would imagine that any half decent robot designed for autonomous action would have almost all of its circuits acting independently; this maximises its chance of survival. Also duplicate systems, with one as redundant, would be essential. These are routinely used where situations of failure would be critical, ie in space missions where immediate repair by humans is not an option.
2. Now the progress of machine technology only able to control the quality of performance itself. Many automation tehnology is perfectly implemented in equipments and vehicles. Therefore emerge anecdote that now flight of the plane is possible to be driven by a blind-man. Of course possible because the bilnd-man just set the rudder to automatical driver of the plane. If the part of machine damage or broken, up to now the machine is not able to repair it self. But please not to think pessimistic, because if we consider the progress of computer technology, especially for robotic system, maybe for ten years forward, If the part of machine damage or broken, the machine is possible to repair it self, moreover the robotic machine possible to think, to decide, to reproduce............, etc.
3. It is NOT impossible unless the bulb went out because the machine ran out of power.