University of Queensland researchers have developed indoor solar panels that could one day power your wearables, sensors, and small electronics using nothing but the light already in your home or office.
The catch has always been that most perovskite solar cells rely on lead and hazardous solvents in their production, which is a problem for both safety and scaling up to real-world manufacturing. The UQ team has figured out a way around that.
So how does it actually work?
PhD student Zitong Wang, under the supervision of Dr Miaoqiang Lyu and Professor Lianzhou Wang, developed a vapor-based process that can manufacture high-quality lead-free perovskite material without any hazardous solvents.
The University of Queensland
The panels hit a power conversion efficiency of 16.36 percent under indoor lighting, which is the highest recorded for this type of lead-free perovskite indoor solar cell made using an industry-compatible method.
Could these replace the batteries in your gadgets?
The panels are being explored as an alternative to coin-cell and button batteries for low-power devices like environmental sensors, wearables, and health monitors. Supermarkets testing electronic shelf labels, which replace paper price tags, are among the early candidates for the technology.
The panels are thin, flexible, and can be made in different shapes, making them easy to slot into all kinds of products. The next step is encapsulation to protect them from moisture and oxygen. After that, it is mostly a waiting game.
Dr Lyu expects perovskite indoor panels to hit the consumer market within the next few years. This is an exciting new technological development that could significantly benefit the environment. I look forward to seeing how it evolves and improves our lives.
Pool maintenance has long existed in a fragmented state, where different tools solve different problems but rarely work together in a meaningful way. Cleaning the floor, clearing the surface, and maintaining water quality have traditionally required separate interventions, often at different times. What has been missing is a system that not only automates these tasks but also connects them through intelligence.
The Aiper Experts Duo introduces that shift by combining two purpose-built robots, the Scuba V3 and the EcoSurfer S2, into a single, coordinated ecosystem. Instead of operating in isolation, these devices function as a unified system that covers every layer of the pool, from the floor and walls to the waterline and surface.
At the center of this system is Cognitive AI
This moves beyond pre-programmed cleaning cycles and into continuous optimization. The technology works as an adaptive loop that enables the robots to interpret their surroundings, make decisions in real time, and refine their behavior based on past performance. By factoring in variables such as pool size, weather conditions, and cleaning history, the system evolves with use, delivering a level of precision that static automation cannot match. Within the Aiper Experts Duo, these AI-driven capabilities are associated with the Scuba V3, where features such as adaptive cleaning modes, real-time debris detection, and intelligent path planning support navigation and cleaning across the pool’s floor, walls, and waterline.
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This intelligence becomes most apparent in how the system manages time and consistency. The EcoSurfer S2 operates using SolarSeeker™ technology, allowing it to maintain surface cleaning throughout the day while intelligently seeking sunlight to sustain its energy levels. At the same time, the Scuba V3 uses AI Navium™ Mode to generate weekly cleaning plans automatically, removing the need for manual scheduling and ensuring the pool remains consistently maintained.
Performance is not just about automation but about efficiency
The Scuba V3’s AI Patrol Cleaning identifies visible debris in real time and adjusts its route accordingly, delivering up to 10× faster cleaning compared to traditional cleaners that rely on standard S-shape floor patterns. By responding dynamically to what it detects, the system ensures that cleaning is both targeted and time-efficient. This is supported by VisionPath™ technology, which integrates AI vision with advanced sensors to map efficient paths, reduce overlap, and navigate obstacles without unnecessary repetition.
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This is supported by VisionPath, which combines an initial AI-led cleaning phase that focuses on visible debris with a structured grid-pattern cleaning of the entire pool floor. The result is a balanced approach that brings together speed and consistency, ensuring that immediate cleaning needs are addressed while still delivering complete and reliable coverage.
The system’s effectiveness also comes from its ability to deliver complete coverage without compromise. While the Scuba V3 handles deep cleaning across the pool’s structure, the EcoSurfer S2 maintains the surface and supports water quality through its adjustable chlorine tablet chamber. Together, they create a continuous maintenance cycle that addresses both visible debris and underlying water balance. Features such as MicroMesh™ filtration capture even ultra-fine particles, while DebrisGuard™ ensures that collected debris remains contained.
Reliability is built into the design through both engineering and architecture
By distributing tasks across two specialized devices, the system reduces wear and improves long-term durability. Combined with solar-assisted operation and energy-efficient path planning, this approach ensures consistent performance while significantly reducing the need for hands-on maintenance, including frequent charging or manual intervention.
Aiper Experts DuoAiper Experts Duo
For homeowners increasingly investing in connected, more carefree and reliable living environments, this represents a more complete approach to outdoor automation. The Aiper Experts Duo does not simply reduce the effort required to maintain a pool; it removes the need to think about it altogether, allowing maintenance to happen seamlessly in the background.
As part of the ongoing spring promotion, customers can access savings of up to 25 percent, available through April 10. In addition, an extra 5 percent discount is available at checkout using the code AiperExpertsDuoXDT, valid through April 25, making this a timely opportunity to transition to a more intelligent and fully integrated pool care system.
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