A universal constructor may refer to
- Universal assembler, a hypothesized nanotechnology device for building a large class of nanomachines including itself, or
- Von Neumann universal constructor, an abstract device capable of constructing all constructible artifacts of an environment. The notion of same, as described by John Von Neumann via his kinematic (robotic) and tessellation (cellular automata) models.
Famous quotes containing the word universal:
“Of lower states, of acts of routine and sense, we can tell somewhat; but the masterpieces of God, the total growths and universal movements of the soul, he hideth; they are incalculable. I can know that truth is divine and helpful; but how it shall help me I can have no guess, for so to be is the sole inlet of so to know.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)