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That seems to be the fantastic part of this motor. Even if you traded off almost all efficiency in order for protectiveness of the material instead, this machine runs on such a low power you could make those trade offs. What you could use this motor for I am unsure.

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The energy required is so small, I wonder if you could use a thermoelectric generator utilizing some tinfoil half in the sun and half in the shade. Maybe such a design could last longer than a solar panel based one.

Too cool. Hey, could these bearings be used in something like a water wheel or windmill? I realize the technology isn’t there yet, but if it could then really you’d could have lowered maintenance costs, slightly increased efficiency, and probably a lot less noise.

>technology isn't there yet

In what sense?

>lowered maintenance costs

Not really, actually - hydrodynamic bearings already work on the "zero wear due to zero surface contact" principle. The reason this is using magnetic bearings is just because it needs super-super low friction, under super-tiny loads, in order to work.

>Probably a lot less noise

Bearings aren't generally noisy. If they were, they wouldn't be very good bearings!

I stand massively corrected on all fronts, thanks!

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