A method for precise control of movement of a motive phase on a lubricant-impregnated surface includes providing a lubricant-impregnated surface, introducing the motive phase onto the lubricant-impregnated surface, and exposing the droplets to an electric and/or magnetic field to induce controlled movement of the droplets on the surface. The lubricant-impregnated surface includes a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating lubricant therebetween or therewithin. The motive phase is immiscible or scarcely miscible with the impregnating lubricant.

A method for precise control of movement of a motive phase on a lubricant-impregnated surface includes providing a lubricant-impregnated surface, introducing the motive phase onto the lubricant-impregnated surface, and exposing the droplets to an electric and/or magnetic field to induce controlled movement of the droplets on the surface. The lubricant-impregnated surface includes a matrix of solid features spaced sufficiently close to stably contain the impregnating lubricant therebetween or therewithin. The motive phase is immiscible or scarcely miscible with the impregnating lubricant.

Generally, a panel maintenance system including a panel maintenance assembly configured to move over a plurality of panel modules. Specifically, a panel module including a first frame including a first plurality of frame members joined to enclose a first panel. The first plurality of frame members including a first frame inner side configured to capture the first panel within the first frame and a first frame outer side configured to provide a first track axially extending between first and second ends of at least one of the first plurality of frame members. The first track configured to engage a drive element of a panel maintenance assembly which operates to move the panel maintenance assembly over the first panel. The panel maintenance assembly bears one or more components which function to maintain the first panel.

Generally, a panel maintenance system including a panel maintenance assembly configured to move over a plurality of panel modules. Specifically, a panel module including a first frame including a first plurality of frame members joined to enclose a first panel. The first plurality of frame members including a first frame inner side configured to capture the first panel within the first frame and a first frame outer side configured to provide a first track axially extending between first and second ends of at least one of the first plurality of frame members. The first track configured to engage a drive element of a panel maintenance assembly which operates to move the panel maintenance assembly over the first panel. The panel maintenance assembly bears one or more components which function to maintain the first panel.

A solar panel system and maintenance method, the system is configured to receive from a sensor module an indication about the environmental conditions in the surroundings of the solar panel, turn the energy-absorbent face of the solar panel to face the sun when sufficient daylight is detected by the sensor module, and to turn the energy-absorbent face of the solar panel to face the surface when the sensed conditions are not suitable for energy absorbance, wherein insufficient daylight constitute a sensed condition not suitable for energy absorbance; and each time the solar panel is tilted so that the energy-absorbent face of the solar panel faces the surface, control a sprinkle module to sprinkle a liquid at the energy-absorbent face.

A heliostat for tracking the sun is disclosed. The heliostat comprises a frame (104) with legs (102); an optical assembly (120) configured to hang between the legs of the frame by means of a plurality of wires (130); and a plurality of actuators (520) configured to change the orientation of the optical assembly via the plurality of wires. The optical assembly may include a mirror (122) or photovoltaic panel that tracks the sun, and concrete backing (610). The optical assembly may further include a tracking controller (150) to energize the plurality of actuators, photovoltaic cell (252) configured to power the tracking controller and actuators, cleaning assembly (1710), and reservoir (770) for capturing rain water on the optical assembly. The optical assembly may further include a camera (254) for capturing images of the frame and determining the orientation of the optical assembly based on the images.

A solar collection system is provided in which an absorption refrigeration system is included to generate water from atmospheric moisture, and to do so without the use of an electrically operated compressor. At least a portion of the solar energy captured by the solar collection system is used to operate the absorption refrigeration cycle. The absorption refrigeration cycle provides cooling that causes water in the atmosphere to condense into a liquid that can be collected and used for various applications. As one example, the collected liquid can be used for the cleaning of the solar collection system of contaminants like dust or bird drippings. In other applications, the water can be used outside the solar collection system including, but not limited to, irrigation, drinking, and other industrial purposes.

A solar collection system is provided in which an absorption refrigeration system is included to generate water from atmospheric moisture, and to do so without the use of an electrically operated compressor. At least a portion of the solar energy captured by the solar collection system is used to operate the absorption refrigeration cycle. The absorption refrigeration cycle provides cooling that causes water in the atmosphere to condense into a liquid that can be collected and used for various applications. As one example, the collected liquid can be used for the cleaning of the solar collection system of contaminants like dust or bird drippings. In other applications, the water can be used outside the solar collection system including, but not limited to, irrigation, drinking, and other industrial purposes.

A solar tracker waterless cleaning system for cleaning solar panels of a solar tracker being able to be positioned at a pre-determined angle, including a docking station and an autonomous robotic cleaner (ARC), the docking station coupled with an edge of the solar tracker, the ARC including at least one rechargeable power source, at least one cleaning cylinder, at least one edge sensor, at least one cleaning cylinder direct current (DC) drive motor including a built-in encoder, a cleaning cylinder drive belt and a controller, the cleaning cylinder including a plurality of fins which rotates for generating a directional air flow for pushing dirt off of the surface of the solar tracker without water, the cleaning cylinder DC drive motor for driving the cleaning cylinder, the controller for controlling a cleaning process of the ARC, the built-in encoder for determining a revolutions per minute (RPM) of the cleaning cylinder.

This disclosure relates to system and method for docking or undocking a track-wheel based device. In some embodiments, the system may include a docking station configured to be fitted on a support track for the track-wheel based device. The docking station may include a protrusion to be fitted at a first position on the support track. The protrusion may be configured to make the track-wheel slide on the support track against the protrusion until an indentation on the track-wheel engages with the protrusion upon alignment. The system may further include an end-dock to be fitted at a second position on the support track. A segment of the support track between the first position and the second position is configured to accommodate the track-wheel during docking.