Several areas of research/industries independently came to the conclusion that nanoscale objects have a variety of use cases. The areas of application range from cosmetics over terahertz antennas for the distance detection of parking assistants to the deployment of medical payload in the human body. Theses examples only scratch the surfaceof possible scenarios. We devided our research into nine subgroups:

• Nano-computation is the science of computational models that appear to function well at the nanoscale. Classical computers on the basis of transistors probably can’t be further miniaturized due to quantum effects.
• The architecture of nanorobots and other nanodevices can be reduced to their constituting components.
• The area of applications for nanorobots is believed to be much more diverse than macroscale environments. Thus, special environmental factors may restrict the construction and behaviour of nanodevices.
• Due to probable resource restrictions at the nanoscale, it might be necessary for nanodevices to work in swarms or groups to fulfil more complex tasks. A group of nanodevices that supports each other to reach a common goal is called a nanonetwork.
• To enable a better collaboration between different disciplines, it is necessary to establish a formal vocabulary.
• Ethical, legal and social consequences are an inevitable byproduct of every new technology.
• Applications are actual scenarios in which nanonetworks or nanodevices may be used to great benefit. These include, but are not limited to, medical scenarios.
• The engineering aspects of nanorobots become increasingly important once it is clear that a new technology is likely to succeed. It is far easier to create reliable products when the appropriate tools are available. One can hammer a nail with a stone, but it is far more efficient to use a hammer or even a nail pistol.
• Evaluation concerns itself with tools that can simulate or evaluate certain ideas without being able or willing to actually implement them. To create a nanorobot will be a quite costly process. Maximizing the chance of success via simulation and evaluation is crucial to ensure a convenient process.

The following projects are currently in progress in Joint Lab 3:

• DNA Computing (DNA - Useful building material in nano size)
• NaBoCom (Connecting in-body nano communication with body area networks)
• Routing (Medical treatment with nanobots in the body)
• Simulationframework (Research on body-internal networks)