Whilst use of these kind of batteries in everyday-devices is pretty much useless, why can't this be useful in some other ways? Seeing as it could last so long, could it be used as an energy source in emergencies or other things?
Atomic batteries would make excellent power sources for sensor motes. They need ultra low power over a long, long time.
For laptops it's a non-starter. But for a distributed network of dust-sized sensors that are mixed into a bridge's concrete and monitor for stress and fractures for 50 years, they would be perfect.
The Engadget summary implies that this is something new. Radioisotope generators have been used for decades in satellites. Really all that's new here is a group of scientists being foolish enough to think that it would be feasable as a consumer product.
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Whilst use of these kind of batteries in everyday-devices is pretty much useless, why can't this be useful in some other ways? Seeing as it could last so long, could it be used as an energy source in emergencies or other things?
Electric trains. Very heavy electric trains.
You raise a good point.
Atomic batteries would make excellent power sources for sensor motes. They need ultra low power over a long, long time.
For laptops it's a non-starter. But for a distributed network of dust-sized sensors that are mixed into a bridge's concrete and monitor for stress and fractures for 50 years, they would be perfect.
The Engadget summary implies that this is something new. Radioisotope generators have been used for decades in satellites. Really all that's new here is a group of scientists being foolish enough to think that it would be feasable as a consumer product.
Space probes, perhaps?