New type of hydrogen fuel cell uses bacteria to provide variable buoyancy, 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.
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.
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