Self-powered computing buoy
A computing apparatus that is integrated within a flotation module, the system obtaining the energy required to power its computing operations from waves that travel across the surface of a body of water on which the flotation module sets. Additionally, the self-powered computing apparatus employs novel designs to utilize its close proximity to the body of water and/or to strong ocean winds to significantly lower the cost and complexity of cooling their computing circuits.
1 . A floating data center, comprising:
a buoyant vessel adapted to absorb energy from water waves;
a generator energized by wave energy absorbed by the vessel;
a receiving antenna configured to receive computational tasks and data;
a transmitting antenna configured to transmit computational results;
a networked plurality of computing devices adapted to process received computational tasks and derive computational results;
a propulsion system adapted to propel the vessel in a body of water; and
a navigation and steering system adapted to steer the vessel;
wherein the plurality of computing devices are energized by electrical power produced by the generator.
2 . The floating data center of claim 1 , further comprising:
an energy management system configured to energize and de-energize at least one of the plurality of computing devices;
wherein the energy management system energizes de-energized computing devices when the electrical power output by the generator increases and becomes sufficient to energize an increased number of the plurality of computing devices; and
wherein the energy management system de-energizes energized computing devices when the electrical power output by the generator decreases and becomes sufficient to energize only a reduced number of the plurality of computing devices.
3 . The floating data center of claim 1 , further comprising:
a heat dissipation circuit configured to receive thermal energy produced by the plurality of computing devices and to transmit said thermal energy to the body of water.
4 . The floating data center of claim 1 , further comprising a task management system configured to store pending computational tasks.
5 . The floating data center of claim 1 , wherein said floating data center is adapted to mine a cryptocurrency block chain header.
6 . The floating data center of claim 1 , wherein the received computational tasks and data are received via encoded electromagnetic signals.
7 . The floating data center of claim 1 , wherein the transmitted computational results are transmitted via encoded electromagnetic signals.
8 . The floating data center of claim 1 , wherein the receiving antenna and the transmitting antenna are the same antenna.
9 . A method for processing a computational task comprising:
placing into a body of water a self-propelled vessel containing a networked plurality of computing devices energized by a wave-energized electrical generator;
specifying at a first location remote from the vessel a computational task;
transmitting the computational task to the vessel;
deriving a computational result within the computing device network; and
transmitting to a second remote location the computational result.