One of the most enthusiastic supporters of microengines is the Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) in Washington, DC.
I would think the short question to ask would be - "What doesn't DARPA fund?" They really should be FARPA - Fund Any Research Project Agency.
I'm not complaining - just observing
-- It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
It ain't going to happen soon.
by
enkidu
·
· Score: 5, Insightful
I usually expect better reporting from the Economist. This is the kind of breathless "This is great! Here's what all the believers have to say!", I expect from "People" or "Popular Mechanics". Here are some of the problems I see with this wonder battery/generator.
Operating life. Now, I'm no scientist, but I do know that silicon and high temperatures don't get along too well. But, you could side step that by using similar manufacturing technologies with other materials. Not that I can think of any candidates...
A turbine does not a generator make. Show me the electricity! Silicon ain't magnetic people. OK, magnetless generators exist, how about "coils" then? Show me the coils! Until I see a working, efficient, microsized generator, I don't see any of this happening.
Call me a crotchety old man, but I just don't buy the efficiency numbers I'm seeing. As things get smaller and smaller, your perceived viscosity goes up and up. Same design + smaller size = less fluidic efficiency. Same goes for the friction + mass problem. Combustion efficiency will probably go up since it's easier to model with the small size.
This leads me to my problems with the nano-technologists we have nowadays. Where's the power? Anybody have a 1 cubic milimeter battery that'll last 1 hour yet? Show me a self powered nanobot. Hell, show me a nano-power source that works! Remember, volume decreases by the cube as you scale down. Sure a quintillion nano-bots could make me breakfast out of yesterday's trash, but what's going to power them? You can't get out more than you put in, you know. Reminds me of the great Larry Niven's quote: "Another beautiful theory, murdered by a gang of ugly facts."
I don't see this stuff (nano-technology, micro-turbines) panning out any time soon (Now, bio+nano or plain bio, I can see scaling down. Also, mini-turbines (1-10 cubic centimeters) I can see happening also.
EnkiduEOT
--
There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself
-Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye
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I would think the short question to ask would be - "What doesn't DARPA fund?" They really should be FARPA - Fund Any Research Project Agency.
I'm not complaining - just observing
It's hard to believe that's how Micronians are made. Why don't we see it right now by having you both kiss one another?
- Operating life. Now, I'm no scientist, but I do know that silicon and high temperatures don't get along too well. But, you could side step that by using similar manufacturing technologies with other materials. Not that I can think of any candidates...
- A turbine does not a generator make. Show me the electricity! Silicon ain't magnetic people. OK, magnetless generators exist, how about "coils" then? Show me the coils! Until I see a working, efficient, microsized generator, I don't see any of this happening.
- Call me a crotchety old man, but I just don't buy the efficiency numbers I'm seeing. As things get smaller and smaller, your perceived viscosity goes up and up. Same design + smaller size = less fluidic efficiency. Same goes for the friction + mass problem. Combustion efficiency will probably go up since it's easier to model with the small size.
This leads me to my problems with the nano-technologists we have nowadays. Where's the power? Anybody have a 1 cubic milimeter battery that'll last 1 hour yet? Show me a self powered nanobot. Hell, show me a nano-power source that works! Remember, volume decreases by the cube as you scale down. Sure a quintillion nano-bots could make me breakfast out of yesterday's trash, but what's going to power them? You can't get out more than you put in, you know. Reminds me of the great Larry Niven's quote: "Another beautiful theory, murdered by a gang of ugly facts."I don't see this stuff (nano-technology, micro-turbines) panning out any time soon (Now, bio+nano or plain bio, I can see scaling down. Also, mini-turbines (1-10 cubic centimeters) I can see happening also.
EnkiduEOT
There is no trap so deadly as the trap you set for yourself
-Raymond Chandler, The Long Goodbye