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Scientists Invent Urine-Powered Robots
Lucas123 writes "Researchers have already built robots that can use microorganisms to digest waste material, such as rotten fruit and vegetables, and generate electricity from it. This time, a group of scientists has taken that concept to a strange, new place: urine-powered robots. The scientists from the University of the West of England, Bristol and the University of Bristol constructed a system in robots that functions like the human heart, except it's designed to pump urine into the robot's 'engine room,' converting the waste into electricity and enabling the robot to function completely on its own. The researchers hope the system, which can hold 24.5 ml of urine, could be used to power future generations of robots, or what they're calling EcoBots. 'In the city environment, they could re-charge using urine from urinals in public lavatories,' said Peter Walters, a researcher with the University of the West of England. 'In rural environments, liquid waste effluent could be collected from farms.'"
Piss poor idea or not?
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Never saw that comming :)
Delta-Mike November Bravo Tango
I guess Bender will like to get pissed...oh...uh...you know what I mean...
Delta-Mike November Bravo Tango
There's a lot of useful chemistry and energy in ammonia (a significant component of urine), because nitrates, or bound nitrogen, have potential energy. Gunpowder manufacture in the middle ages relied on factory-style processing of animal urine.
...our mass transit systems will become self sustaining.
Have gnu, will travel.
I piss on our new Urine Powered Robotic Overlords!
Your robot is also your urinal. No energy expended in transportation or gathering, any expended energy is already expended.
Next up: Sex robots that drink your pee!
In times of universal deceit, telling the truth gets you modded -1 Troll