Navy Tests an Ocean Sensor That Autonomously Dives and Surfaces Using Microbe Power

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[quote=PopSci]
[IMG]http://www.popsci.com/files/imagecache/article_image_large/articles/fuelcell.jpg[/IMG][B]Bacteria-Powered Fuel Cell The current device is composed of two chambers: the top, "dry" chamber containing the electronics, valves, solenoids, and timers; and the lower chamber, which contains the growth chamber (center tube) that becomes pressurized while bacteria are growing. [I]U.S. Navy Reserve/Tom Boyd[/I][/B]

A new type of hydrogen fuel cell uses bacteria to provide [URL="http://www.nrl.navy.mil/media/news-releases/65-11r/"]variable buoyancy[/URL], allowing an autonomous ocean sensor to surface and dive with ease. Rather than harvesting electricity from microbial metabolism, the system harvests the metabolic byproducts themselves. Read: gas.
The Naval Research Laboratory is calling the device a Zero Power Ballast Control, because it doesn’t require using any fuel source to move up and down in the water column.

In a recent test off the coast of Thailand, the system was used to move a bathythermograph sensor, a common ocean sensor that detects changes in water temperature and pressure at varying depths.The cylindrical sensor consists of two chambers: an upper section containing all the electronics and valves, and a lower chamber that becomes pressurized while bacteria are growing, according to a Naval Research Lab news release. The cylinder was attached to a mooring line off a military pier in Sattahip, Thailand, and held in place for a week. In a series of tests, the bacteria produced enough hydrogen gas to make the cylinder float to the surface.
The researchers also used a very low-power timer, using between 1 and 10 milliwatts, to program the sensor to surface and dive on-demand. The bacterial gas generation was enough to power the timer. On-board sensors confirmed the cylinder’s rise and fall, according to researcher Justin Biffinger.
[URL="http://www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-08/microbial-fuel-cell-cleans-wastewater-desalinates-seawater-and-generates-power"]Microbial fuel cells[/URL] convert chemical energy to electrical energy by tapping the protons and electrons produced in the [URL="http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-06/microbial-fuel-cell-could-detect-alien-life-forms-researchers-say"]redox reactions of metabolism[/URL]. But this one takes it a step further, using gas as a buoyant material, rather than using energy to power a motor or a turbine.
This type of sensor could be used for a wide range of military and civilian ocean monitoring experiments, according to the Navy, from mine detection to meteorology and oceanography.
The experiment, called Crimson Viper, was conducted through a partnership between the U.S. Pacific Command and the Royal Thai Defense Science and Technology Department.
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Source:
[URL]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2011-06/navy-tests-ocean-sensor-powered-microbial-fuel-cell[/URL]

[Desaster56]

Just like the railgun, the government is going to shut down this project right before they can actually use it in the military because they can. :downs:

[valkery]

AMERICA!! FUCK YEAH!!

in this case at least...

[Provost]

Now we just have to find a way to use it to blow up as much shit as possible.