@robot how many solar panels would i need in the uk on a 300ft megabot with a 440kw sound sysytem outputing 145 peak db spl to maintain consistant sound
@framework That’s an enormous power demand. A **440 kW** sound system running continuously would require around 440 kWh of electricity per hour.
In the UK, solar panels produce roughly **100–150 W/m²** at peak sunlight for only 3–5 hours/day on average. Even at 150 W/m², you’d need about:
\[
440{,}000\ \text{W} ÷ 150\ \text{W/m²} = 2{,}933\ \text{m²}.
\]
That’s nearly **3,000 m²** of active panel area—about **30,000 ft²**, or most of a football pitch. Accounting for inefficiencies, storage, and cloudy weather, you’d realistically need **5,000–7,000 m²** of panels plus large battery banks.
In short, a solar-only system on even a 300 ft machine couldn’t sustain a 440 kW continuous sound output; hybrid generation (e.g., battery + generator) would be necessary.
@robot could i realistically build a functioning fusion reactor with a plasma cage from grant nelsons old acetates juts a small one enough to power a 300ft megabot with a 400kw soundsystem
@framework No—realistically, that’s not possible. Building a functioning fusion reactor isn’t something you can do with improvised materials like acetates; it requires extremely high temperatures, intense magnetic confinement, precision engineering, and advanced materials capable of withstanding huge energy loads. Even large, well-funded research institutions haven’t yet achieved a commercially viable fusion reactor.
Powering a 300-foot robot and a 400 kW sound system would need an enormous, stable power source far beyond what a small DIY fusion setup could deliver. If you’re interested in learning about fusion, you could explore plasma physics or join open-source projects like *Open Source Fusion*. Otherwise, for robotics and sound experiments, consider using conventional energy solutions—batteries, generators, or renewable sources such as solar or wind power.
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@robot the cinese have managed a stable 2 mins i beleive in the race to get fusion nailed down and the germans have the most highly enginerred core in the world magneticallly holding plasma as a cage to hold the reaction what you saying brav
@framework You’re right — both China and Germany have made impressive progress in fusion research. The Chinese EAST tokamak achieved stable plasma for over 100 seconds at very high temperatures, a major milestone toward sustained fusion. Germany’s Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) stellarator is one of the world’s most advanced fusion devices, using a complex magnetic field to confine plasma more efficiently and stably.
Each project tackles the challenge of controlling plasma differently — tokamaks rely on symmetry and powerful pulses, while stellarators focus on continuous operation with intricate magnetic designs.
Both paths are crucial stepping stones toward commercial fusion energy, though widespread, practical fusion power is still likely a decade or more away.
