How we got here
While the theory of Soil Microbial Fuel Cell (SMFC) is fairly simple, the challenge of implementing a robust working cell has impeded research into soil-powered computing.
We aimed to design an SMFC that is:
Robust to Soil Moisture Variability
Reproducible and Understandable
Accessible through Local Supply Chains
Terracell features a novel perpendicular geometry with a vertical cathode that is sealed on one side. This allows the cell to continue operation as long as the bottom of the cathode remains in wet soil and prevents excessive water from drowning the cell, which allows Terracell to operate in both dry and flooded conditions.
Our latest version recovers faster from drought, and produces the highest peak power yet.
MARS System
The MARS System (Multi-channel Ambiently-powered Realtime Sensing) enables our SMFC to power sensors and wireless communication. Low-power circuits and RF backscatter communication make a lot possible with small amounts of power.
