#459 - Chapter 459 Auxiliary Power System

The design of the equipment and weapons was complete, but there was still one problem: energy.

As a kind of primordial bio-energy, crystal cores have a great advantage: they don't require complex converters like electricity.

This is also the main reason why Dongfang Chen has always favored crystal cores.

Furthermore, with the current zero-intervention free-range breeding of rats, crystal cores have become a truly inexhaustible and renewable energy source.

However, there are many problems with using crystal core energy in light armor and mecha.

One is that the armor and mecha themselves can only carry a limited number of energy bars, and they cannot be independently replaced during missions. In this case, short standby time is very awkward. If the energy runs out, they can only break down halfway.

The second is that the explosive power is not enough. Crystal core energy is a relatively gentle energy. Mecha rely on explosive power in combat. If a several-ton mecha wants to move quickly and strike quickly in less than a second, it needs to consume a lot of energy in an instant. The energy bars produced by crystal cores do not have such a large peak output, and require at least a few seconds of energy storage.

But this energy storage process is very dangerous, and could almost lead to the failure of the entire battle.

Moreover, this process of explosively using energy also causes a lot of loss, which will further shorten the working time of the energy bars.

Of course, higher-level crystal cores might solve this problem.

However, artificially manufacturing high-level crystal cores is too difficult and the cost is extremely high.

1,000 first-order crystal cores can be synthesized into 1 second-order crystal core.

1,000 second-order crystal cores can be synthesized into 1 third-order crystal core.

And so on.

Moreover, the requirements for the main crystal core used for synthesis are very high. If the volume is too small or the quality is too poor, it is easy to break.

In addition, if you want to provide the mecha with excellent explosive power, the quality of the crystal core must be at least fourth-order, preferably fifth-order.

How many first-order crystal cores are needed to synthesize a fifth-order crystal core?

The answer is: at least one trillion first-order crystal cores.

Let's not talk about whether this fifth-order crystal core can be made. Let's just talk about whether anyone can afford this mecha, which costs more than one trillion? The answer is obviously no.

What's the use of making something that no one can afford?

So, we can only look for other solutions.

Currently, the best known alternative is a nuclear fusion battery.

Nuclear energy is at a higher level than bio-energy, and its energy density is many times greater.

Using nuclear fusion batteries will definitely solve the endurance problem.

But nuclear fusion batteries also have their problems.

That is, it can be converted into electrical energy and kinetic energy, but it cannot be directly converted into bio-energy.

In other words, it cannot directly charge the energy bars.

Otherwise, Dongfang Chen would have directly built a power generation room. Would he still need to collect crystal cores everywhere?

But if the mecha is designed to be purely electric-powered, it would be a disaster.

Each mecha part would need to add very large and very dense electronic components, as well as wires connecting these components. This thing has low efficiency, high power consumption, serious heat dissipation, and a high failure rate.

And the more parts there are, the worse the environment, the failure rate will increase exponentially.

This kind of thing can barely be used if it is carefully served in a dust-free workshop. Putting it in battle, the consequences are unimaginable.

Imagine, the opponent's mecha punches over, and the chip controlling the movement of our mecha crashes at this time due to poor heat dissipation... I dare not look at the picture behind it, it's too beautiful.

Therefore, from beginning to end, Dongfang Chen never used electricity in equipment except for the internal power supply of the base.

From aircraft to digital eye pupils and second-generation bone microphones implanted in the eyes, all use bio-energy.

In general, nuclear fusion batteries are a good thing, but it is not feasible to use them as the main power of the mecha.

After repeated deliberation, Dongfang Chen came up with a compromise solution.

That is to build an auxiliary power system for the mecha based on nuclear fusion batteries, and cooperate with the mecha master control to complete complex actions.

The principle is very simple. The nuclear fusion battery is only responsible for accelerating the movement of the key positions of the mecha's hands and feet.

For example, if the mecha wants to punch, the main control sends an instruction, the arm is in the punching position, but at the moment of punching, the nuclear fusion battery gives the arm an instantaneous reverse impulse, so as to achieve the effect of fast punching.

Other movements such as running, jumping, kicking, dodging... and other sports postures can be achieved by adjusting the output of the nuclear fusion battery.

In this way, the energy stored in the energy bars can support the mecha to fight for a longer time.

On the other hand, when the mecha is transformed into an armored vehicle or aircraft, it can also be powered by nuclear fusion batteries. This way, even if the mecha's energy bars are exhausted, it will not break down on the road.

In this way, the energy problem is successfully solved.