Hi,
I'm wondering if there is some device (scanner or something) that can scan a biological specie like plant for example and give analyzed data about it's structure, composition, cells types, processes that are going on etc. Just like an biologist would analyse and categorize it, but much more faster and precise maybe and automatically, like in the movies and games : D you know : D? Basically to analyse everything that it is etc and categorize it etc. And the same for entire environments and non plant biological species.
I'm asking because if there is already something I'm wondering what is it and if not it would be interesting for me to think about such project and try to assemble something with Arduino boards, PC etc...
thx : )
If there is such a device (and it's a massive"if"), you can be certain it doesn't involve slow, memory-limited microcontrollers.
This is why I mentioned PCs for the computing. But the question is how to make it and how to make it with the dimensions of a easily maneuverable drones that can be deployed in big quantities on alien planets to make the research and scanning : D
Or even in the tropical forests etc on this planet, there are so many not yet analysed species .....
By the time.you've solved the problem of conveying the drones to candidate alien planets, maybe there'll be such a device, and it will be compact and cheap and capable of operating in alien environments without polluting or contaminating them.
Maybe.
you could start with color sensors and gas sensors and make a profile of a plant.
CHeck this for inspiration - http://www.maskau.dk/projects/electronic-nose
Then still you need to have a (filled) database that contains information to compare to.
Or you need to build this up iteratively and share it on the internet so it will grow faster.
And even experienced botanists are always sure (or right) and they reclassify species oin a regular basis.
In short, I like the idea (it is almost a tricorder! yes!) but I doubt the feasebility.
That said I've been proven wrong many times in my live and I hope you do too 
Yep, I've thought about gas, spectrum scanners/sensors, but we need chemical analyse, cells and tissues scan, structure, then computing what are the properties etc and of course database co compare to and signalize if there is something additional to be analysed by human or differences between similar species and what are the unknown differences : D ...
TolpuddleSartre
Another question is how to communicate with those drones in real time ... a conventional radio waves maybe wouldn't be fast enough ... hmmm .. ; D
BorislavLukanov:
how to communicate with those drones in real time
This is easily covered through the use of an ansible.
BorislavLukanov:
Yep, I've thought about gas, spectrum scanners/sensors, but we need chemical analyse, cells and tissues scan, structure, then computing what are the properties etc and of course database co compare to and signalize if there is something additional to be analysed by human or differences between similar species and what are the unknown differences : D ...
These things are still firmly in the realm of science fiction. Not yet science fact.
A lot can probably be done already with separate, highly specialised, expensive lab equipment. But what you're dreaming of sounds more advanced than Star Treks tricoder, or however they called that thing that goes "bleep" and tells you what's killing you.
vinceherman:
This is easily covered through the use of an ansible.
wvmarle:
hahaha, could be used gravitational waves : DThese things are still firmly in the realm of science fiction. Not yet science fact.
A lot can probably be done already with separate, highly specialised, expensive lab equipment. But what you're dreaming of sounds more advanced than Star Treks tricoder, or however they called that thing that goes "bleep" and tells you what's killing you.
well, yep, there are many devices used in biology for scanning of things, but the data received from them must be computed to give result and they must be in a maneuverable drones
in space, they use sensors to detect the reflection of the wavelengths of the leaves. each plant has a different wavelength.
since you are speaking of remote sensing, and non-contact sensing, your searching for such things should include how those folks sending satellites up are doing it now.
the technology you seek has no mainstream applications at this time on this planet. so there is no mass production of such things at a cost that we consider affordable..
as you mentioned, as technology progresses, things change. who would have expected your cell phone to know you are climbing stairs based on air pressure ? no one had that in their science fiction Dick Tracy wrist watch, Maxwell Smart shoe-phone future tech.
as for detection of plants, you have to understand the data the sensor receives.
you would have to write the programs that would then correlate that into classes or families,
I do not see this as insurmountable, we are already doing such things (as a species) but it is not yet in the hands of an individual on a consumer level. at least not on this planet at this time.
Since we do have the ability to evaluate data, the sensor is your main focus. getting the sensor to report what is different from two plants is the first step.
if you want to get huge funding, seek monies from the DEA in the USA, detecting fields of illegal crops has economic impact and the gov't funds such things.
Recognizing that a field is full of marijuana or poppy seeds, vs. corn or beans, is the second step. The first step is recognizing a field full of plants vs. a field full of asphalt. Let us know when you have found a sensor that can do that.
Maybe we should speak about multiple sensors that gives the desirable result after computing of the received data.
Applications of similar devices on this planet I think are not only actual but essential for many technologies related even to the survival of the species : D like the vertical farming (is actual at the moment hehe) and also I bet that not only under water, but also in the forests there are so many species (insects for example) not yet categorized and analysed, even maybe impossible for human to do this that the use of such devices could make possible and/or make faster.
In addition we could say that the development of those drones could be of great help for biologists etc .... but who would like to work on such project? Any voluntaries? : D
Once I have finished working on my present free energy device project I might have some time for this. Monthly payment in advance for working on an infinite project that has no chance of delivering anything sounds quite attractive.
Farmers now use drones for monitoring crops, irrigation and weeds. That is about as good as it gets at the moment, but nothing like the sci-fi requirements you have.
High requirements for hiring ; P : D HAHAHAHAHA
I hear them scientists are big into this new fangled thing called DNA. They claim it to be some kind of lipstick or mascara of an organimism. Oh, they said make-up of an organimism, I think.
If you can automatate a smoothie blender and tape it to a centriferris wheel, I think you'd be halfways there.
There is still the problem of sample taking for DNA analysis of the species. The drone would have to be able to compare the surrounding species with the already known and categorized ones, so it can skip the necessary possible samples while scanning a zone. : D Then of course based on the DNA could be reconstruct the model of the specie, but also the possibility to scan the organism itself, not its DNA is important or useful I think, because, I'm not sure, but in the DNA of a tree is not specified the numbers of the leafs or ramifications for example or how they are branching out etc. It should be a complex scan of the DNA and the difficult part : D and maybe more, there should be also the environment in which it exists, interacts etc.
It should be equipped with a laser scanner : D and tells the planet of origin : D
I've heard before that within a single tree you can find really different sets of DNA - as if it are multiple individuals.
Furthermore, the DNA from the cell core (which is normally what's used to classify species and so) may not be enough: there's a lot of mitochondrial DNA in a cell as well, the function of which is largely unknown. This basically gets transferred only from mother to child, the father does not contribute any of this DNA.
The final outlook of an organism is indeed not just a result of DNA, but also from many environmental factors, such as available food, space to grow (plants tend to get taller when there's lots of competition for space/sunlight and wider when they have the space), especially for trees whether they got struck by lightning or not, etc.