While the Solar Impulse jumps hurdles and breaks records for manned solar-powered flight, a different plane altogether is setting similar marks for unmanned flight. The Zephyr is in the midst of attempting a 14-day continuous high-altitude flight powered only by solar panels integrated into the plane’s facade. Already, the Zephyr has set a new record [...]

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While the Solar Impulse jumps hurdles and breaks records for manned solar-powered flight, a different plane altogether is setting similar marks for unmanned flight. The Zephyr is in the midst of attempting a 14-day continuous high-altitude flight powered only by solar panels integrated into the plane’s facade. Already, the Zephyr has set a new record [...]

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When it comes to power, everybody thinks about money and how we should make power-generating devices like solar cells become more efficient (read: more stuff for the same money and size). Thin film solar cells are yet another competitor to classic ones, and attract customers through the fact that they’re thin, flexible and cheap. And they’re also pretty inefficient (20% at most).

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