The space solar industry is entering a new phase as 6-inch GaAs wafer mass production begins to reshape the economics of high-efficiency photovoltaic cells. Larger wafer formats are not only a manufacturing upgrade but also a key driver for reducing the cost of next-generation space power system
TrailNAV, an open-source solar-powered offline navigation device based on ESP32-C6 MCU and 2.7" e-paper display, was released in June 2026. It integrates NEO-M8N GPS and QMC5883L magnetometer for destination guidance and digital compass — fully off-grid, no cellular required. Fully open-source on GitHub, demonstrating embedded systems' potential for ultra-low-power outdoor navigation.
NB-IoT and LoRaWAN have become dominant connectivity technologies for solar GPS trackers, offering ultra-low power consumption and strong signal penetration. Solar panels are being further miniaturized for animal wearable trackers.