von Neumann machines
Hi All
This is the first step towards a proper vNM capability. Coupled with a plasma-torch/bulk-mass-spectrometer and you'd eventually have Santa Claus machines able to make themselves and anything else out of raw asteroidal material. Advanced units would allow space-colonies to become closed industrial economies if they can find roids of the right mix. Dandridge Cole's Macro-Life looks more feasible with every advance in the rapid prototyping sector.
Now all we need is CATS at ~ $1/kg to make space colonies feasible.
Adam