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This Defense Intelligence Reference Document from the Defense Intelligence Agency, dated 10 December 2010, is one of a series of advanced technology reports produced in FY 2010 under the Advanced Aerospace Weapon System Applications (AAWSA) Program. It reviews quantum computing technologies and DNA-based molecular computing for onboard supercomputing on future spacecraft. It forecasts ion-trap quantum computers within 10 years, simple DNA tile computing within 20 years, and self-repairing DNA computers on a 40-year horizon.
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UNCLASSIFIED/ /P8R 8PPH!IJIIL t!l9I!! SHLY Simple organic computing based on DNA tiles will be realized in the next 20 years. On the 40-year time horizon, useful DNA-based devices will be essential space exploration tools. These could take the form of orbital-delivered wireless sensors searching planetary/asteroid features or for essential compounds such as high concentrations of water. DNA computers will be realized on the 40-year timeline. Their advantage over solid state devices will be the ability to repair nanoscale elements damaged in normal use or by cosmic radiation. These will not be the fastest systems in the astro-arsenal, but they may be the most robust. CONCLUSION We have presented an introduction to quantum computing and the technologies that comprise the current state-of-the-art. In the 10-20 year horizon, we will see optical and DNA-based computers realized on small production scales, but their readiness level for space travel will be lacking. On the 40-year horizon four major advances in space-ready technology will be seen: devices developed for optical computing will allow an all-optical computer to augment or replace general purpose computers; optical communication will play an essential role in hybrid designs of space-based quantum computers along with quantum dots; DNA devices will perform simple distributed sensor data analyses; and fault tolerant DNA computers will be available for mission-critical analysis tasks. 46 UNCLASSIFIED/ ,'6QA Q6FlilAL ll!H! ercc I
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Report, from the dia collection. The PDF is mirrored here; the original link is under it. 54 pages are in the text index: search them above, or from the library's search.