Ultimately, to minimize the mass and power requirements, ANTS structures will be based on carbon nanotube components. Nanotubules have demonstrated the entire range of behaviors required for ANTS materials. They can be twisted, tapered, which should allow the winding and stacking required to stretch or shorten or interweave fibers, if this can be done reversibly. Dendritic arrangement of nanotubese with specially designed functional groups should allow the creation of surfaces with requred reflectivies. In addition, nanotubes have been shown to be capable of storing and releasing energy. The challenge is modelling and creating nanotubes with combined characteristics.
Some especially relevant websites include:
| Nanotube Graphic |
| Technology Page |