A 100 percent solar-powered boat that cost under $3,000 to build!

by Laura Domela

While it might not be the world’s largest solar boat or the fastest, this modest home-built solar-powered boat does the job and comfortably accommodates six passengers. Dubbed “Firefly,” it was built by Canadian eco-enthusiast Dan Baker for an impressive CA$2,900 (US$2,845).

The Firefly was custom built to cruise lakes, providing a leisurely experience without air or noise pollution. Baker fitted the roof of the boat with a home-built solar panel featuring 6 x 6 photovoltaic cells which he purchased on eBay. Energy is stored in a lead-acid battery, which powers two brushless DC electric motors. Each motor is mounted on opposite rear corners of the boat to provide thrust and steering.
via gizmag

Quickly and accurately identify inter-domain leakage issues in IC designs

Sponsored by Siemens Digital Industries Software

Power domain leakage is a major IC reliability issue, often missed by traditional tools. This white paper describes challenges of identifying leakage, types of false results, and presents Siemens EDA’s Insight Analyzer. The tool proactively finds true leakage paths, filters out false positives, and helps circuit designers quickly fix risks—enabling more robust, reliable chip designs. With detailed, context-aware analysis, designers save time and improve silicon quality.

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featured chalk talk

What’s Driving Zephyr’s Momentum

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In this episode of Chalk Talk, Brendon Slade from NXP and Amelia Dalton explore what Zephyr makes unique, how it compares to other RTOS options, and how its design philosophy enables developers to scale from simple prototypes to production-ready systems with confidence.

Click here for more information about NXP Semiconductors Zephyr™ OS for Edge Connected Devices

May 4, 2026

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A 100 percent solar-powered boat that cost under $3,000 to build!

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