Editing Nanotechnology

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{{Wikipedia}}
'''Nanotechnology''', often shortened to '''nanotech''', is a field of technology involving the manipulation of matter on extremely small scales.

==History==
[[Humanity]] first began developing nanotechnology around the turn of the 21st century. The technology saw widespread use by the 26th century, serving as a general-purpose technology on almost all industries. The term "nanotechnology" was coined by the Japanese scientist [[wikipedia:Norio Taniguchi|Norio Taniguchi]] and popularized by [[wikipedia:Eric Drexler|K. Eric Drexler]].

==Applications==
===Human===
[[Human]]ity, principally the [[United Nations Space Command]], utilizes nanotechnology for several purposes. [[Nanoreagent hydrocarbot]]s are a suspension of nanomachines that convert carbon-heavy matter into usable fuel for the UNSC's internal combustion power plants, including the [[hydrogen-injected internal combustion engine]]s used by the [[M12 Force Application Vehicle]] and the [[M274 Ultra-Light All-Terrain Vehicle]].<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/TopStory.aspx?link=mongi '''Bungie.net''': ''Mongoose'']</ref>

In addition, various nanoscale materials such as [[carbon nanofiber]]s (primarily [[carbon nanotube]]s) have become standard in construction. Due to its great durability and strength, carbon nanotubes allows the construction of enormous structures which would be impossible using conventional materials, such as [[space elevator]]s.<ref>'''[[Halo: Contact Harvest]]''', ''page 28''</ref> Carbon nanotubes are also used to construct vehicle tires, such as those of the M12 Warthog FAV. Possessing single-unit nanotube skeletons, the tires perform similar to traditional inflatable tires while being virtually unbreakable.<ref>[http://halo.bungie.net/News/content.aspx?type=topnews&cid=896 '''Bungie.net''': ''AMG Civilian Hog Review'']</ref>

Other types of nano-fibers are utilized in special military training garments, working in conjunction with [[tactical training round]]s. These fibers respond to TTR paint by becoming rigid and immobile, thus preventing a struck body part from moving.

Nanomachines are also used in conjunction with [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor|MJOLNIR]] armor systems. As of [[2552]], the UNSC had developed nanotechnology designed to perform repairs on MJOLNIR armor while its [[SPARTAN Program|Spartan]] occupant rested in [[cryonics|cryo-sleep]].<ref name="bots">'''[[Halo: Glasslands]]''', ''page 213''</ref> Given enough time and in the hands of a capable [[Smart AI|"smart"]] [[artificial intelligence|AI]], these nanomachines were capable of completely overhauling a suit. While the {{Class|Charon|light frigate}} ''[[UNSC Forward Unto Dawn|Forward Unto Dawn]]'' drifted through space for four years, the AI [[Cortana]] used nanomachines to upgrade and redesign [[John-117]]'s [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VI|MJOLNIR Mark VI armor]].<ref>[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QjswoU39AOY '''YouTube''':''The Science Behind The Halo Series'']</ref> A similar form of nanotechnology was incorporated into the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor/Mark VII|MJOLNIR Mark VII]], allowing the suit to repair and upgrade itself autonomously during cryo-sleep.{{Ref/Reuse|bots}} This feature was presumably carried over to the [[MJOLNIR Powered Assault Armor (GEN2)|MJOLNIR [GEN2]]].
===Covenant and its [[Covenant Remnants|remnants]]===

The [[Assembly Forges]] refer to the various manufacturing facilities of the [[Covenant]], individually referred to as an assembly forge. These facilities produced items piece-by-piece using clouds of programmable nanomachines. These nanomachines were fed instructions via a [[design pattern]], maintained by [[artisan-armorer]]s. An imperfect replication of the [[assembler vats]] once used by the [[Forerunner]]s, assembly forges are susceptible to mutations in design patterns, unaccounted variance in feedstock material, and transcription errors.<ref name="wf90">''[[Halo: Warfleet]]'', p. 90</ref> The mutation of a design pattern often required the resetting of the forge that had attempted to produce the design.<ref name="wf72">''Halo: Warfleet'', p. 72-73</ref>

After the [[fall of High Charity]] during the [[Great Schism]] in [[2552#November|November 2552]], the [[Swords of Sanghelios]] and [[Covenant remnants|successor factions]] of the Covenant were forced to turn to independent assembly forges for equipment, notably [[Lodam Armory]].<ref>[https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/vehicles/phantom '''Halo Waypoint''': ''Phantom'']</ref>

[[Fighting skin]], a [[Powered exoskeleton|powered armor]] use by [[Prelate]] contain automatic repair functions, which can automatically-repair holes in the suit over a period of multiple days, though during this time the suit lacks the power to make communications.{{Ref/Novel|Id=DW17|HDW|Chapter=17}}

=== Forerunner ===
The [[Huragok]] are an example of the Forerunners' mastery of nanotechnology. Huragok are synthetic organisms, having no true tissues or organs but instead being composed entirely of nano-mechanical surrogates. Their tentacles are equipped with microscopic cilia, capable of splitting apart to manipulate objects on extremely small scales. Certain Forerunner installations, such as [[Trevelyan|Shield World 006]], contained special touch-panels that could interact on a nano-scale with Huragok cilia.

Certain Forerunner devices are capable of assembling objects out of raw materials, rearranging matter on a molecular or atomic scale. [[Design seed]]s could manufacture entire spacecraft on-site using only raw materials from the surrounding environment, and [[Promethean Watcher]]s can similarly "conjure" new [[Crawler]]s simply by using raw materials present in the nearby ground.<ref>[http://halo.xbox.com/blogs/Headlines/post/2012/06/20/The-Halo-Bulletin-62012.aspx '''Halo Waypoint:''' ''The Halo Bulletin: 6.20.12'']</ref>

[[Assembler vats]], also referred to as assemblers were nanofabrication facilities utilized by Forerunners to construct various artifacts. Assemblers ranged in size and complexity from small machines used to manufacture personal items to moon-sized foundries capable of constructing entire shield worlds and space stations. Instructions and construction templates on how to build various items were fed to assemblers for mass replication in the form of a design seed.

The Forerunners are also known to use [[Smartmatter]], which is composed of self-assembling micro-machine blocks reinforced by energy bonds.<ref name="WF86">''[[Halo: Warfleet – An Illustrated Guide to the Spacecraft of Halo|Halo: Warfleet]]'', Weapon-Ships - p.82-83</ref>

==Sources==
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[[Category:Technology]]