# 33. The Solar Panel That Broke The World Record

- Show: [The Next Byte Podcast](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast)
- Published: 2021-08-31
- Length: 17m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record
- Listen: https://the-next-byte-wevolver.simplecast.com/episodes/33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record-HfTYIs9U

## Summary

Daniel Scott Mitchell and Farbod Moghaddam discuss two technological breakthroughs: Australian National University's new world-record-setting bifacial solar cells, which harvest reflected light to achieve 29% efficiency, and an MIT AI-powered optical sensor that identifies laser cutter materials via speckle sensing. The hosts analyze how bifacial cells offer a 30% power boost in space-constrained urban areas without needing expensive tracking systems, while the MIT device solves the safety and material waste issues of cutting unknown substances like polycarbonate. They highlight the low-cost, retrofittable nature of the MIT sensor, built with a Raspberry Pi and 3D printed parts, as a significant win for maker spaces and hobbyists.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record#t=0) Introduction: Bifacial Solar Cells and MIT Laser Sensor
- [2:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record#t=168) Bifacial Solar Cell Efficiency and Space Constraints
- [5:50](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record#t=350) Market Share Predictions and World Record Details
- [7:32](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record#t=452) MIT Smart Laser Cutter System Overview
- [9:31](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record#t=571) Speckle Sensing Technology and AI Training
- [12:48](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-next-byte-podcast/2021-08-31-33-the-solar-panel-that-broke-the-world-record#t=768) Safety, Reliability, and Maker Space Applications

## Topics

- [Energy & climate tech](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/energy-and-climate-tech)
- [AI & machine learning](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/ai-and-machine-learning)
- [Maker community & events](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/maker-community)

## Most relevant to

makers and hobbyists, early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Australian National University (company)
- MIT (company)
- Raspberry Pi (chip)
- Glow Forge (product)
- Nova Labs (company)

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- [Ep101: Lasering and Milling Absolutely Everything](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/hackaday-podcast/2021-01-15-ep101-lasering-and-milling-absolutely-everything) (Hackaday Podcast)

## Citing this page

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