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24-Hour Power Cells for Wearable PCs
Stacey Brewer sent us linkage to a press release from Xybernaut DCH Technology to
work on 24-hour fuel cells for use with their Mobile Assistant: a crazy little wearable that yes, will run Linux. I need a demo unit, darnit!
Go I love technology. Soon my toaster will be running Linux. My phone will be FreeBSD though :)
Sounds interesting, but the fuel (O2,H2) for fuels cells is inherently dangerous (ie, explosive). Plus the by-product, water, needs a place to go. (I guess you could drink it.)
So, I'm not sure fuel cells go well with being directly attached to a person's body (heat issues also). However, fuel cells in cars is another issue entirely.
In a car, the potential for explosion is negligibly equal to gasoline. The by-product of water is much cleaner than anything to date. The heat can be expelled to the environment with making the passengers uncomfortable.
I wonder how Xybernaut & DCH Tech will deal with these issues.
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He lives in a world where those who do not run the client software of the omnipresent meme are unacceptable.
In addition, the oxidant the cells actually use is not mentioned. Although it is assumedly hydrogen, we cannot be sure. The questions of storage and cost rear their ugly-ish heads as well. Of sourse, there is also the exhaust (probably water). Where will it be disposed?
How much power is the unit supposed to provide? What power usage are tehy assuming in oredr ot arrive at the 24 hour usage potential? Etc etc etc etc. All in all, the statement seems more product of marketdroid hyperbole than anything else.
Can somebody actually provide any of the details? Did I miss something obvious? I found nothing relevant in the technical FAQ, the support area, or the company info...so, what should we make of this announcement?
The truth is out there - we'll let it back in after it sobers up a bit. -The Cube
Power issues for mobile devices will prove to be a real rain on the their parade.
I've read what seems like 10,000 articles in the popular (and even technical) press that predict mobile computing will be super huge in 3 to 5 years time. Here in Europe, we'll have GPRS and 2Mb/s on our handheld devices by 2002 (apparently), so journos are predicting we'll have full-motion video feeds, etc., on our cellphones and the like.
Well, we might, but we'll also have to develop full-on biceps to carry the batteries that will have to power the things.
More reserch money for power!
G
"And the meaning of words; when they cease to function; when will it start worrying you?"
If you look at this link you'll find that you're not the first person to make this comparison.
I noticed that the lithium batteries for their current product are listed as providing 4 to 6 hours runtime. So at 12 to 24 hours runtime, you are only talking about lasting 2 to 4 times as long. Yes, I know 2 to 4 times longer IS a big deal, but can they bring it in at 2 to 4 times the cost of the current batteries? And the lithiums are easily rechargeable with a plug-in adapter. How will they distribute Hydrogen? Home electrolysis units? And, IIRC, the Space Shuttle fuel cells have a useful life of 2400 hours. How will these compare? The lithiums are supposed to be rechargeable 500 times.
I really do hope they answer all the questions we've raised. I'm not convinced that their application sounds like a hit in the marketplace, but, as others have mentioned, there are plenty of other applications for fuel cells of all shapes and sizes.
There is some current batery technology that will already provide power for up to 21hrs.
Lithium Ion SuperPolymer batteries..
http://www.electrofuel.com
Although fuel cells dont have a recharging problem... how will you store extra fuel?
Xybernaut reportedly has a more affordable consumer model (MA V) due in the third quarter of this year. It likely won't be -cheap-, but at least less than the current $5000-$8000. Personally, I'm going to be waiting until this comes out before I buy one myself (planning to use it as my primary college computer (^o^).
Groovy thing is, some rumors say that the new model will be using Crusoe (Xybernaut has an NDA with Transmeta).
BTW, the reason the price is currently up so high on the MA IV is that Xybernaut primarily sells to large firms or the government, who really don't care about the price, but rather the return they receive.
Is anyone as troubled as I am by the following excerpt from their press release?
This combination of expanded battery life in conjunction with our patent portfolio of more than 450 patent applications awarded and pending will further position Xybernaut to maintain its leading role in the wearable computing industry.
Sounds a lot like they're preparing to crawl up the backside of anyone who tries to play in their sandbox, Open Source or not.
Shut up and eat your vegetables!!!
Great that we may have FMV on our phones, but why? I use my phone mostly for chats with friends, and the last thing I want to see when sitting back in a chair with my eyes closed is their mug staring out of my little phone. That last sentence does actually assume I have transparent eyelids, but you get the message :-)
The present trend for mobiles is making them smaller and more unobtrusive which makes the idea of watching TV or videophone on a tiny handset rather annoying. The current generation of children will all grow up with eye problems anyway from staring at Microvitec Cubs &c. for so many years.
There has been talk in the press over the last few years of making roll-out screens - what's the latest?
Then again, my Nokia 6150 phone has a battery life of a few days, which is more than enough, but apparently if you have a phone with a vibrating alarm, it soaks up batteries.
Let's all look forward to a vibrating Psion with loads of power, which is small, and can be used for fax, email, and phone in one package!
http://blog.grcm.net/
Considering how explosive hydrogen is, I can't see the FAA, or any other airline safety authority for that matter, approving fuel cell use while onboard a plane.
That would pretty much rule out using hydrogen fuel cells in a situation (long-haul flights) where they'd be most desirable.
Think again. For electronic applications, carrying sufficient fuel would be easier than carrying sufficient batteries. For powering vehicles, the potential bennies are even greater: not only are fuel cells more efficient than ICEs -- implying a greater range per unit of fuel -- but they run cleaner, cooler, and much quieter making them potentially less detectable.
Anyway, if you check out the background on the DCHT website, you'll see that this particular flavor of fuel cell came out of Los Alamos National Laboratory. I'd say that the US military is probably aware of the potential.
This is the ultimate "vaporware".
[Humor key: Fuel cells release water vapor]
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- http://www.ballard.com/ Stationary fuel cells (for your house)
- http://www.manhattsci.com/ Micro fuel cells (for your cell phone/PDA)
- http://www.plugpower.com/home.cfm More home fuel cells
- http://reality.sculptors.com/lists.html Fuel cell discussion list
Thanks to Patrick Salsbury, who hosts the list and who provided the above links in an earlier Slashdot thread.Have fun: Join D.N.A. (National Dyslexics Association)
If I remember correctly, last time I heard about xybernaut they were in hot financial waters. Part of the peril of being ahead of your time -- wearable computers will be efficient and affordable at some point, but they sure aren't now.
So how much of this is just speculation to increase their stock valuation (if they have stock) or to get more vc?
Anyway, they do need a web admin with minimal experience, and they're in my hometown. Hmmm... Employee Discount?
Jack Valenti and the MPAA are to technology as the Boston strangler is to the woman home alone
They don't have to use Hydrogen - see my earlier posts about one using Methanol or go here.
The Tick - "Spoon!"
"Bah!" - Dogbert
Don't you think an idiotic hardware patent on the order of "a computer hardware device designed to be worn by the user" is just as stifling to innovation as a software patent on something like "one click ordering"? It seems a bit hypocritical to limit yourself to saying that you only care about software. That, or it's pretty narrow-minded since a hardware product of any signficance has to include a substantial amount of software these days just to compete.
Shut up and eat your vegetables!!!
It's funny but I actually ran across something on one of the multimedia sites (sorry can't find the link at the moment) of how to use use a standard laptop with a pair of $500 display glasses and a chording keyboard/mouse as a "wearable". Not too bad if you get a light notebook and wear it in a small satchel - or maybe a Libretto or Sony Picture Book. =-)
The Tick - "Spoon!"
"Bah!" - Dogbert
The Matrix here we come!
*grin*
The Tick - "Spoon!"
"Bah!" - Dogbert
SO because I actually have time to post for once due to a lull in my sysadmin duties I have no life?
My life is just fine thank you. If it were someone else more well known posting 10 or more times to this group you would probably not complain so why am I getting flamed here?
I respect your right to post when and where you want - please respect mine.
The Tick - "Spoon!"
"Bah!" - Dogbert
Maybe we'd have to ban smoking before it would be safe enough to implement fuel cells in consumer vehicles. Wouldn't that be a shame.