How much power does it produce? It must be pretty bad since they don't mention it anywhere in the article.
this post was submitted on 04 Feb 2024
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The linked article has a table that gives 1.74 uW/cm^2. However glancing over the rest of the paper there's a ton of variability of output.
I'm thinking around 6
Damn I hoped it would go to eleven, I need that little bit extra.
For low power applications. You won't be charging your phone off this.
Depends on how many fuel cells you get and are able to shovel dirt into
1.21 gigawatts
Love these pie in the sky articles that get debunked immediately in the comments
Who debunked this? I don't any comments debunking it.
Also if you read the article it has limited applications so it's not some pie in the sky you think it.
I kind of get op's point. It's not straight up debunked, but it's so few microwatts that they can power the sensor but they can't store log data.
It requires a close proximity powered base station nearby to fire a signal out to get reflected back somehow.
I'm having a hard time picturing any viable setup outside of a laboratory experiment. If you've got a powered base station within a few inches of it why not just power it with that?
" As long as there is organic carbon in the soil for the microbes to break down, the fuel cell can potentially last forever.”
It's also a stationary battery
"Although the entire device is buried, the vertical design ensures that the top end is flush with the ground’s surface."
Better link with fewer ads: https://interestingengineering.com/innovation/new-fuel-cell-taps-energy-from-dirt-dwelling-microbes-to-power-sensors
Link to paper https://dl.acm.org/doi/pdf/10.1145/3631410
Can it power DOOM !
So if the tip is sticking out for airflow, how does it handle a flash flood?
"Furthermore, the researchers used waterproofing material on the cathode's surface, allowing it to work during flooding and assuring progressive drying after submersion."
I missed that part in the article, I should have just searched for the word flood, woops
Sensuously?