I can upgrade the shelter

"Mr. Chen, regarding the Isotope Thermoelectric Battery, the project team has raised new requirements, hoping to develop a small battery." A staff member stood in front of Chen Xin, holding a document, and informed him of the latest project requirements.

Listening to the requirements, Chen Xin didn't find anything problematic, he simply confirmed with the staff: "A small battery? How small, and what about the performance parameters?"

The Isotope Thermoelectric Battery that Chen Xin initially developed wasn't very large or heavy, roughly the size of a thermos, something one person could carry around. Now they're requesting smaller batteries, which inevitably made Chen Xin curious about exactly how small they want these devices.

"Regarding this, the project team specified that they need something portable for a single soldier, with dimensions less than 20cm in height and no more than 10cm in diameter, similarly sized to a large thermal cup." The staff member opened the document and read the specific requirements: "The battery's rated output power should not be less than 30KW, with a lifespan of at least one year. The battery should be able to be overloaded, sacrificing its lifespan to enhance instantaneous output power, apart from this there are no other requirements."

After conveying these requirements, the staff member handed over the document to Chen Xin.

After hearing the staff member's read-out requirements, Chen Xin took the document handed over to him, glanced through it, and said with interest: "Such small dimensions, are you planning to use them in Power Armor?"

"Well… This project is highly confidential, we only know the performance requirements. As for where it will be applied, we're clueless." The staff member couldn't answer Chen Xin's question, though responsible for liaising with Chen Xin, he could access some high-level information but not everything.

Shrugging indifferently at the staff member's answer, Chen Xin shook his head and said: "Alright, if you don't know, you don't know. Has a prototype been sent over?"

"Yes, the relevant prototype has already been delivered, with this project being a top priority, any need you have will be met first." The staff quickly asked those beside him to bring in a small container, then opened it to reveal the small Isotope Thermoelectric Battery prototype created by the related project team.

Chen Xin wasn't surprised at how quickly the country could produce a small Isotope Thermoelectric Battery prototype, given the reverse engineering based on the battery he created and the country's accumulated technology in this field, making a small prototype wasn't a challenge.

However, clearly this small prototype Isotope Thermoelectric Battery couldn't meet design requirements in various aspects; otherwise, it wouldn't have been sent to Chen Xin.

"It seems your research progress on Isotope Thermoelectric Battery is going well, when will it be put into practical use?" Chen Xin was concerned about this, once the Isotope Thermoelectric Battery is used in various aspects, it could bring substantial survival point income to him.

The staff was not able to answer this well, not being familiar with the related project progress, he could only reply: "The specifics are unclear to me, though since the small battery prototype is developed, it should be soon, right?"

"Okay, it seems the progress is slower than I expected." Chen Xin didn't mind this, after all, research isn't like a video game where you click to learn a skill and produce just with a single press.

Instructing Han Ze to pack the small container and send it to the workshop below, Chen Xin also said to the staff: "I will study this first, and inform you later on the needed materials."

"Alright, Mr. Chen, we will take our leave for now." After saying this, the staff politely bid farewell to Chen Xin and left his shelter with others.

After they left, Han Ping was about to close the door, when Chen Xin stopped him and said: "Prepare, we'll go out for a while, and bring Ah Lan along."

"Okay, I'll get ready." Upon hearing Chen Xin's decision to go out, Han Ping didn't ask where they would go, he just went directly to prepare for their exit.

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"Where are we going?" Qin Lan, called out by Chen Xin, was somewhat puzzled about why Chen Xin wanted her to accompany him.

"Going to Xiao Long's, it's officially operational now, so we'll go take a look." Chen Xin answered Qin Lan, and explained: "You've been stuck at home, afraid you might feel down, so I thought to take you out for a spin."

"Thanks, but out in this pitch-black snowy weather is just inconsolable, isn't it?" Qin Lan couldn't resist teasing Chen Xin's words.

"Not like that, I'm just concerned you might feel stifled." Chen Xin grinned at Qin Lan, but soon seriously asked her: "By the way, I wanted to ask what your thoughts are on Power Armor."

His question surprised Qin Lan, prompting her to ask in puzzlement: "Power Armor? The kind in sci-fi movies? Is there any practical purpose in talking about this?"

"Yes, because I think the country is likely developing this. Moreover, creating a usable Power Armor myself isn't a difficult task, so I wanted to ask you if I made one, what functions should it have, and what requirements to meet." Chen Xin replied to Qin Lan, without hiding his thoughts.

"Ah Xin, can you really make Power Armor?" Qin Lan was incredulous, but after Chen Xin gave her a firm answer, she seriously contemplated before saying: "Providing full-body protection should be foremost, right? Secondly… environment scanning, battlefield support?

I can't answer offhand, but personally, combining game experience and actual combat, I'd hope for stealth functions, aiming assistance, these should be crucial for snipers?"

"Is that so? So you prefer a specialized kind of Power Armor, right?" Chen Xin wasn't surprised; given Qin Lan is a sniper, her requirements naturally stem from her experience.

After asking Qin Lan, Chen Xin then turned to Han Ping, who was driving, and asked him: "Han Ping, what do you think?"

"Ah? Me? I don't know!" Han Ping was momentarily taken aback, unsure of how to respond.

"Just say whatever, you've heard of Power Armor, right? If it's given to you, what functions would you hope for?" Chen Xin wasn't going to let Han Ping off the hook, still wanting his opinion.

"Uh…" Han Ping pondered but couldn't think of much, tentatively answering: "Let me run faster, jump higher, be stronger?"

"Faster, higher, stronger? Quite a balanced view." Chen Xin didn't find Han Ping's answer perfunctory, rather found it valuable for reference.

Perhaps thinking his answer was too simple, Han Ping racked his brains and then supplemented: "In the military, what I feared most was emergency assembly followed by weighted cross-country tasks, if it lets me carry heavier loads, more ammo, that seems a practical choice, right?"

"I think that's reasonable, for regular soldiers, carrying more ammo and gear is key to enhancing battlefield survival." Qin Lan voiced support for Han Ping's suggestion.

Although a sniper, Qin Lan understood ordinary soldiers' demands in battle.

After hearing both Han Ping and Qin Lan's suggestions, Chen Xin nodded in summary: "So, you think a set of Power Armor should enhance speed, load capacity, and defense, enabling more equipment to be carried, last longer on the battlefield, and have good protection?"

"These should be fundamental, if specialized, like snipers, demolition experts, or assault specialists, it should be specialized accordingly." Qin Lan further supplemented.

"Understood, I will design a basic model first, then improve upon it." Chen Xin nodded in acknowledgment.

Qin Lan, hearing Chen Xin's statement about making Power Armor, didn't doubt his words, though Han Ping, not knowing Chen Xin well, curiously asked: "Mr. Chen Xin, can you really make Power Armor? Isn't this something only the country has the technology for?"

"That's technically true, but actually developing Power Armor isn't as difficult as you think." Seeing Qin Lan curious about Han Ping's question too, Chen Xin explained with a smile: "Manufacturing Power Armor itself isn't complicated, the core is just hydraulic transmission and structural support, even with various functions, as long as there's knowledge, an individual can complete the design, production, and assembly in a personal workshop.

Before the disaster, countries had been developing powered exoskeletons, which are essentially unprotected Power Armor.

The real constraint on Power Armor development and practical use is the energy issue, which is the same for powered exoskeletons, needing to be charged every few hours even minutes isn't viable in combat."

"So once Ah Xin developed the Isotope Thermoelectric Battery addressing the energy issue, making something which was only on paper and in labs swiftly practical became inevitable?" Qin Lan identified the key point.