Toward a tele-nanorobotic manipulation system with atomic scale force feedback and motion resolution

Steps toward the realization of a tele-nanorobotic manipulation system using a magnetically levitated hand controller coupled with a scanning tunneling microscope are discussed. With this system, it is possible to 'manually' probe surfaces at atomic scale, while 'feeling' the atomic-scale topography back in the operator's hand. Results for sputtered gold and graphite are presented.