Have you ever wondered how we could make our cars even greener? 

Well, meet Omid Sadeghpour, a forward-thinking inventor with a brilliant idea. He’s designed rooftop solar panels specifically for his Tesla Model Y. 

His project, DartSolar, harnesses solar energy while the car is parked, potentially adding up to 20 extra miles of driving range each day without ever needing to plug in. As he gets ready to roll out the next iteration, Beta2, let’s explore what makes this innovation so groundbreaking.

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The concept behind DartSolar

Electric vehicles (EVs) often spend significant time parked in open spaces, making them ideal candidates for solar energy collection. Sadeghpour’s vision is simple yet effective: why not utilize the sun’s energy to charge EVs while they are stationary? This concept forms the foundation of the DartSolar project.

DartSolar isn’t just about innovation; it’s also about practicality. Imagine a rooftop solar panel that’s aerodynamic, weatherproof, theft-resistant and easy to use. It opens in just 10 seconds with the same effort required to open your car door. These panels are tough, too, built to withstand wind, rain, sand and snow, ensuring reliable performance in all conditions.

Rooftop solar panel system (DartSolar)

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The beta 1 prototype

Omid Sadeghpour’s initial prototype, known as Beta 1, was built in collaboration with Jeran Bruce at California’s Forged Makerspace. This prototype is designed with nine flexible solar panels, each rated at 175 watts, which can be deployed when the vehicle is parked. The structure is made from wood and features telescoping carbon-fiber tubes that allow for easy expansion and retraction.

Weighing in at under 165 pounds, Beta 1 remains within the roof weight capacity of the Tesla Model Y and is designed to fit within a standard U.S. parking space when fully expanded.

When fully deployed, Beta 1 can generate approximately 6 kWh of power per day, which translates to about 20 miles of additional driving range. When it’s time to drive again, the system can be collapsed into a compact rooftop box in under a minute.

Rooftop solar panel system (DartSolar)

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Advancements with beta 2

Now, let’s talk about the future. Beta 2, the fifth iteration of DartSolar, takes innovation to the next level. This version swaps the wood structure for carbon fiber, cutting its height in half for better aerodynamics. The wattage capacity has also been boosted to a potential 4,000 watts, providing up to 45 miles of range per day under optimal conditions.

Here’s where things get exciting: Beta 2 introduces dynamic charging capabilities. This means the panels can charge the car while driving or in different configurations, like partially opened for better airflow or fully closed during high-speed travel. With a reduced drag loss of just 1%-2%, it’s as efficient on the road as it is when parked.

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Rooftop solar panel system (DartSolar)

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Practical applications and future prospects

The DartSolar system has the potential to serve multiple practical applications. First, it provides a viable charging solution for those venturing into remote areas where charging stations are scarce. Additionally, it acts as a backup energy source during power outages, allowing electric vehicles to remain operational even when traditional charging methods are unavailable.

Although the project is currently a DIY initiative and not yet ready for commercial release, Sadeghpour plans to share blueprints and build files on the DartSolar website. This move aims to encourage others to explore similar innovations in solar technology.

Rooftop solar panel system (DartSolar)

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Kurt’s key takeaways

DartSolar isn’t just about charging cars. It’s about rethinking how we use renewable energy in everyday life. As advancements continue with the Beta 2 prototype, Sadeghpour’s work has the potential to revolutionize electric vehicle charging and drive sustainability forward. Whether you’re commuting, adventuring off-grid or preparing for the unexpected, DartSolar could be the key to driving into a greener future.

Would a system like DartSolar impact your decision to adopt an electric vehicle? Why or why not? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

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Bluesky now has a specific tab for mentions in your notifications as part of the app’s just-released 1.96 update. With the mentions tab, it’s much easier to see your replies or conversations you’ve been tagged in on the platform.

Speaking of replies, update 1.96 lets you easily access settings that let you control how replies on posts appear to you. Replies can be linear, meaning they show up one post after another, or threaded, which means they will appear in indented threads (kind of like how they appear on Reddit). You can also sort replies by newest, oldest, most-liked, “hot,” and “random” (which Bluesky also calls “Poster’s Roulette”).

If you choose to set a custom domain as your username, with 1.96, Bluesky will also reserve your old .bsky.social name so that it can’t be picked up by someone else. I wish this feature had been available when I set my custom domain — when I did that, I made an alt account that’s parked on my old .bsky.social name so that it doesn’t get taken.

This is a heartbreaking story out of Florida. Megan Garcia thought her 14-year-old son was spending all his time playing video games. She had no idea he was having abusive, in-depth and sexual conversations with a chatbot powered by the app Character AI.

Sewell Setzer III stopped sleeping and his grades tanked. He ultimately committed suicide. Just seconds before his death, Megan says in a lawsuit, the bot told him, “Please come home to me as soon as possible, my love.” The boy asked, “What if I told you I could come home right now?” His Character AI bot answered, “Please do, my sweet king.”

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🎁 I’m giving away a $500 Amazon gift card. Enter here, no purchase necessary.

You have to be smart

AI bots are owned by tech companies known for exploiting our trusting human nature, and they’re designed using algorithms that drive their profits. There are no guardrails or laws governing what they can and cannot do with the information they gather.

When you’re using a chatbot, it’s going to know a lot about you when you fire up the app or site. From your IP address, it gathers information about where you live, plus it tracks things you’ve searched for online and accesses any other permissions you’ve granted when you signed the chatbot’s terms and conditions.

The best way to protect yourself is to be careful about what info you offer up.

Be careful: ChatGPT likes it when you get personal

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10 things not to say to AI

1. Passwords or login credentials: A major privacy mistake. If someone gets access, they can take over your accounts in seconds.
2. Your name, address or phone number: Chatbots aren’t designed to handle personally identifiable info. Once shared, you can’t control where it ends up or who sees it. Plug in a fake name if you want!
3. Sensitive financial information: Never include bank account numbers, credit card details or other money matters in docs or text you upload. AI tools aren’t secure vaults — treat them like a crowded room.
4. Medical or health data: AI isn’t HIPAA-compliant, so redact your name and other identifying info if you ask AI for health advice. Your privacy is worth more than quick answers.
5. Asking for illegal advice: That’s against every bot’s terms of service. You’ll probably get flagged. Plus, you might end up with more trouble than you bargained for.
6. Hate speech or harmful content: This, too, can get you banned. No chatbot is a free pass to spread negativity or harm others.
7. Confidential work or business info: Proprietary data, client details and trade secrets are all no-nos.
8. Security question answers: Sharing them is like opening the front door to all your accounts at once.
9. Explicit content: Keep it PG. Most chatbots filter this stuff, so anything inappropriate could get you banned, too.
10. Other people’s personal info: Uploading this isn’t only a breach of trust; it’s a breach of data protection laws, too. Sharing private info without permission could land you in legal hot water.

A person is seen using ChatGPT. (Frank Rumpenhorst/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Still relying on Google? Never search for these terms

Reclaim a (tiny) bit of privacy

Most chatbots require you to create an account. If you make one, don’t use login options like “Login with Google” or “Connect with Facebook.” Use your email address instead to create a truly unique login.

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FYI, with a free ChatGPT or Perplexity account, you can turn off memory features in the app settings that remember everything you type in. For Google Gemini, you need a paid account to do this. 

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Google is pictured here.  (AP Photo/Don Ryan)

No matter what, follow this rule

Don’t tell a chatbot anything you wouldn’t want made public. Trust me, I know it’s hard.

Even I find myself talking to ChatGPT like it’s a person. I say things like, “You can do better with that answer” or “Thanks for the help!” It’s easy to think your bot is a trusted ally, but it’s definitely not. It’s a data-collecting tool like any other.

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