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Sun-tracking solar panel uses origami-inspired design to increase efficiency by 36 percent

Just like flowers, solar panels that can move along with the sun as it treks across the sky can harvest more energy from those precious rays. However, the hardware and motors to achieve this solar panel movement are cumbersome and require additional space for installation, hindering the adoption of this efficient method of harvesting light energy. But creative thinkers at the University of Michigan might have a solution. Inspired by the Japanese art kirigami (think: origami with scissors), researchers at U of M have developed a movable solar panel that can be tilted easily, without the need for bulky motorized trackers.

Instead of merely folding paper, kirigami relies on precision cuts to create the art form’s movable, geometric shapes. The Michigan team worked with Matthew Shilan, a paper artist and lecturer in the U-M School of Art and Design. Shilan showed Associate Professor Max Shtein and doctoral student Aaron Lamoureux how to create both simple and complex kirigami designs using paper. Shtein and Lamoureux then re-created these designs using Kapton, a space grade plastic. Combining engineering with art, the team discovered a simple row pattern of cuts created a mesh-like matrix that would tilt in response to stretching.

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To test their design, the team constructed a solar array comprised of Kapton and custom-built solar cells. The cells were attached to the Kapton with spacing to allow the team to make the kirigami-like cuts using a carbon-dioxide laser. The prototype showed promise but the design needed to be tested on a scale far too large for the team to build using the resources on campus. Though not tested physically, simulations suggest the team’s movable solar panels could collect up to 36 percent more light than traditional stationary cells. These lightweight kirigami panels compare favorably to motorized solar panels, which harvest up to 40 percent more light but are 10 times more heavy and significantly more bulky than a stationary panel.

Researchers believe the kirigami solar panels have “significant potential,” but they need to refine the design so it can be built on a smaller scale. The team is continuing to explore realistic applications of the technology with the goal of using it someday to reduce the cost of solar electricity.

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Kelly Hodgkins
Kelly's been writing online for ten years, working at Gizmodo, TUAW, and BGR among others. Living near the White Mountains of…
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future electric cars 2021 volkswagen id4 official 32

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For cars registered between 2020 and 2022, EVs averaged just 4.2 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles, while ICE cars saw more than double that, at 10.4 per 1,000. Even with more EVs hitting the road, they only accounted for 1.2% of total breakdowns — a big win for the battery-powered crowd.
Among standout performers, some cars delivered exceptionally low breakdown rates. The Audi A4 clocked in at just 0.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for 2022 models, with Tesla’s Model 3 right behind at 0.5. The Volkswagen ID.4, another popular EV, also impressed with a rate of 1.0 – as did the Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross at 1.3. On the flip side, there were some major outliers: the Hyundai Ioniq 5 showed a surprisingly high 22.4 breakdowns per 1,000 vehicles for its 2022 models, while the hybrid Toyota RAV4 posted 18.4.
Interestingly, the most common issue for both EVs and ICE vehicles was exactly the same: the humble 12-volt battery. Despite all the futuristic tech in EVs, it’s this old-school component that causes 50% of all EV breakdowns, and 45% for gas-powered cars. Meanwhile, EVs shine in categories like engine management and electrical systems — areas where traditional engines are more complex and failure-prone.
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Now, zooming out beyond Germany: a 2024 Consumer Reports study in the U.S. painted a different picture. It found that EVs, especially newer models, had more reliability issues than gas cars, citing tech glitches and inconsistent build quality. But it’s worth noting that the American data focused more on owner-reported problems, not just roadside breakdowns.
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amazon autos hyundai evs lease ioniq 6 n line seoul mobility show 2025 mk08

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Humanoid robots race against humans at unique half-marathon in China
A humanoid robot running in a half marathon.

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China just put humanoid robots to the test in the world’s first race of its kind, where they ran alongside humans in a half-marathon. A total of 21 robots lined up for the event in the Yizhuang half-marathon, following a long spell of supervised learning on roads. 

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