Close Topic Options

Human = Battery

I created this thread to discuss the scientific possibilities behind the fictional concept presented in the Matrix trilogy of using humans as a source of energy. While we know the machines turned to using humans as their new energy source after the sky was scorched, and some other bits and pieces from the Animatrix films, the details of how they channeled this energy was never discussed, and for good reason. Here is my theory:

Based on the positioning of the tubes that are attached to a plugged in human, ie down the spinal cord and along the extremities, I would think that the machines were feeding off of the neuro-kinetic signals that the brain is sending to the rest of the body. Thus the need for control over humans, because the body would not be allowed to move on its own. Movement would take away from this neurological signal, and therefore take away from the energy source. By keeping the body under control, all electrical impulses could be channeled externally.
The control of the mind and the concept of the matrix, was to fool the human into thinking that he is using his body normally, thus the brain is forced to send the electrical impulses to the rest of the body. By fooling the brain, it is unaware that the rest of the body is lifeless. We know the body is 'dead' so to speak from the first movie. After Neo was freed, his muscles needed to be atrophied because they were never used.
Some people have used the argument that the machines were feeding of the heat produced by a human body, but in the state that the bodies were being kept, I find it hard to believe much heat is being generated save what is needed for the body organs to function. What are your thoughts on this?

Battery Human

Good theories and I would guess that looking at one human makes it hard to comprehend where you could get anything out of it, but when you consider millions then you see the potential. I guess it is the difference between one candle and a million candles.

However, what is more confusing is this... how is it that the Machines needed humans to survive and yet the humans in Zion need the Machines to survive. If many could live underground using the Machines, then why could the machines not use this principle? This I believe was the point of the scene with the Councillor and Neo:

---

Councillor Hamann: Almost no one comes down here, unless, of course, there's a problem. That's how it is with people - nobody cares how it works as long as it works. I like it down here. I like to be reminded this city survives because of these machines. These machines are keeping us alive, while other machines are coming to kill us. Interesting, isn't it? Power to give life, and the power to end it.

Neo: We have the same power.

Councillor Hamann: I suppose we do, but down here sometimes I think about all those people still plugged into the Matrix and when I look at these machines, I.. I can't help thinking that in a way, we are plugged into them.

Neo: But we control these machines, they don't control us.

Councillor Hamann: Of course not, how could they? The idea's pure nonsense, but... it does make one wonder just... what is control?

Neo: If we wanted, we could shut these machines down.

Councillor Hamann: Of course... that's it. You hit it! That's control, isn't it? If we wanted, we could smash them to bits. Although if we did, we'd have to consider what would happen to our lights, our heat, our air.

Neo: So we need machines and they need us. Is that your point, Councillor?

Councillor Hamann: No, no point. Old men like me don't bother with making points. There's no point.

---

Now notice he says that 'almost no one comes down here (to the Machines) which makes you wonder how come they are so well engineered. Could it be that the concept of Zion is all just a part of the Matrix?

Another thing to think about is that the Machines do not need the human energy, but the human thought process so it can have 'Purpose'. Consider that if the humans were gone and yet still they had an energy source what would be the purpose of the machines? Remember their original purpose was to serve man, and I think by keeping the humans in this slave state somehow 'pleasures' the machines.

Human = Battery RPG Plugged Trilogy Matrix

Excellent questions, JB! Welcome back. It is my belief that the machines could exist for a finite period of time without any human-generated power. This is evident from what the Architect told Neo in Revolutions:

Neo: You won't let it happen. You can't. You need human beings to survive.
Architect: There are levels of survival we are prepared to accept.

Now with respect to the machines relying on the power of the sun, according to Morpheus in the Matrix, the machines that were created by humans did rely on solar energy. This is why the sun was scorched.

Morpheus: A singular consciousness that spawned an entire race of machines. We don't know who struck first, us or them. But we know that it was us that scorched the sky. At the time they were dependent on solar power and it was believed that they would be unable to survive without an energy source as abundant as the sun. Throughout human history, we have been dependent on machines to survive. Hah, fate it seems is not without a sense of irony. The human body generates more bio-electricity than a 120-volt battery and over 25,000 BTU's of body heat. Combined with a form of fusion the machines had found all the energy they would ever need.

He also talks about BTU's of body heat, but as I stated earlier, I can't see how heat could have generated enough, but again, all speculation. As for the machines in Zion, they are not relying on solar energy because there is none in the core of the earth. They are obviously relying on a different energy source; most likely heat as Zion is located in the center of the earth, and the heat there is in large quantities. The Zionites probably built the machine to efficiently use the heat generated in the core to provide heat, light and other essentials, as well as recycle it. The humans alone would not be able to do any of this. Therefore, there is a symbiotic relationship in Zion between man and machine; and a prime example of how things could have been if man respected the machines more than they did.
As for the engineering of the machines in Zion, we have to realize the type of people that lived there. Other than the natural Zionites, who were born there, the rest are freed minds, and as we all know, it took a special gift to be freed from the Matrix. Therefore, we have to assume that Zion is a collection of great minds, and when great minds come together, great things can be accomplished!
Now to the last question about whether the machines would survive if the humans were all gone. Yes they would, but for a limited time, and the machines would be forced to exploit another source of energy. As for purpose, the purpose of the machines now were survival, and nothing more. That is the reason they need the humans; because they have figured out the most efficient way of getting the energy they need. I am not so sure about wanting the humans to be their slaves, as it is clear in the Animatrix films that they wanted to co-exist with the humans when they formed their own country of Zero-One. It was the greed and pride of the humans that forced the machines to have to find an alternate energy source.

Battery Human

I just wonder why they use humans as battery? I mean they cause all sort of problems. Why didn't they use zebras for examples? How complicates is that? or even dolphins or bears?

Battery Human

That may be a good argument for JB's theory of enslavement. They chose the humans because the humans were the ones who made them what they were, and by controlling them, it would serve a purpose. Although I question the intellectual capacities of animals and whether it would have required more work by the machines to control an animal's brain and have it generate the required brain impulses for energy. The human mind is by far the most powerful on this planet, therefore it is capable of generating far more neuro-kinetic signals than any animal.