Abstract: Systems and methods for manufacturing solar panels are provided herein. Such systems can include an automated shingling module that creates a string of cells by overlapping the strips. The system can include one or more sensors that determines a distance between first and second markers on a back-side of first and second solar cell sections that correspond to an overlap of the sections. One or both of the first and second markers can include features existing on a back-side pattern or can include modifications of a standard back-side pattern, or can include unique markers. The system can utilize feedback from the sensor to optimize overlap during shingling of overlapping strips.