Cool.
Kirigami is like origami but with scissors. Whereas origami is strictly a paper
folding art form, kirigami employs both
folding and
cutting of paper. University of Michigan believes they have created a method by which solar panels, using kirigami-style design, can keep facing the sun without
using heavy machinery.
The team found that these panels to be nearly as effective as conventional sun-tracking solar panels. The new panels are 36 percent more efficient that stationary panels compared to 40 percent for traditional motorized units. Of course these new panels are also a tenth of the weight of the trackers, making them ideal for home installation. "We think it has significant potential, and we're actively pursuing realistic applications," Lamoureux continued. "It could ultimately reduce the cost of solar electricity."
via engadget