A monitoring system that is configured to monitor a property is disclosed. The monitoring system includes a sensor that is configured to generate sensor data that reflects an attribute of the property; a solar panel that is configured to generate and output power; and a monitor control unit. The monitor control unit is configured to: monitor the power outputted by the solar panel; determine that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from an expected power range; based on determining that the power outputted by the solar panel has deviated from the expected power range, access the sensor data; based on the power outputted by the solar panel and the sensor data, determine a likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range; and determine an action to perform to remediate the likely cause of the deviation from the expected power range.

A system including a tracker configured to collect solar irradiance and attached to a rotational mechanism for changing a plane of the tracker and a controller in communication with the rotational mechanism. The controller is programmed to store a plurality of positional and solar tracking information, determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, calculate a first angle for the tracker based on the position of the sun, detect an amount of accumulation at the first specific point in time, determine a first maximum range of motion for the tracker based on the amount of accumulation, adjust the first angle for the tracker based on the first maximum range of motion for the tracker, and transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the first adjusted angle.

A method for moving an end effector based on receipt of sunlight, the end effector divided into a first and second upper quadrant located above a Y-axis that corresponds to a solar azimuth and a first and second lower quadrant located below the Y-axis, the first upper and first lower quadrant located on a first side of an X-axis that corresponds to a solar angle and the second upper and second lower quadrant located on a second side of the X-axis, determining a vertical difference between an average of the illuminance received in first and second upper quadrants and an average of the illuminance received in first and second lower quadrants, determining a lateral difference between an average of the illuminance received in the first upper quadrant and the first lower quadrant and an average of the illuminance received in the second upper quadrant and the second lower quadrant, moving end effector along the X-axis in response to the vertical difference being greater than a vertical tolerance; and moving the end effector along the Y-axis in response to the lateral difference being greater than a lateral tolerance.

The present disclosure provides a solar surface steering system including a solar surface; a base mount; a main body having a first rotary vane actuator configured to rotate the solar surface via a first rotating joint, and a second rotary vane actuator configured to rotate the main body of the hydraulic actuator via a second rotating joint connected to the base mount; a fluid mover operably connected to each of the first and second rotary vane actuators and configured to actuate the first and second rotary vane actuators; and a control system electrically connected to the fluid mover and configured to control operations of the fluid mover, wherein the first and second rotary vane actuators are affixed to each other and positioned such that a rotational axis of the first rotary vane actuator is orthogonal to a rotational axis of the second rotary vane actuator.

The present disclosure provides a solar surface steering system including a solar surface; a base mount; a main body having a first rotary vane actuator configured to rotate the solar surface via a first rotating joint, and a second rotary vane actuator configured to rotate the main body of the hydraulic actuator via a second rotating joint connected to the base mount; a fluid mover operably connected to each of the first and second rotary vane actuators and configured to actuate the first and second rotary vane actuators; and a control system electrically connected to the fluid mover and configured to control operations of the fluid mover, wherein the first and second rotary vane actuators are affixed to each other and positioned such that a rotational axis of the first rotary vane actuator is orthogonal to a rotational axis of the second rotary vane actuator.

A method allows positioning the tracker at angles that promote the cooling of photovoltaic modules and therefore, decrease their operating temperature, without reducing the total energy produced thus optimizing power production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity by reducing the working temperature of PV modules of a solar tracker. The method also provides an optimization of the electrical output of the system for particular conditions of instantaneous air temperature and wind speed to improve electrical power generation ratios with respect to those known current techniques taking into account incident power in the PV plane, or in some cases the output power without considering the action of changes in wind speed or air temperature.

A method allows positioning the tracker at angles that promote the cooling of photovoltaic modules and therefore, decrease their operating temperature, without reducing the total energy produced thus optimizing power production of photovoltaic (PV) electricity by reducing the working temperature of PV modules of a solar tracker. The method also provides an optimization of the electrical output of the system for particular conditions of instantaneous air temperature and wind speed to improve electrical power generation ratios with respect to those known current techniques taking into account incident power in the PV plane, or in some cases the output power without considering the action of changes in wind speed or air temperature.

Systems and methods for autonomous drone-based solar panel maintenance may utilize drone positioning, image analysis, and processing to determine solar panel angle and clarity.

Systems and methods for autonomous drone-based solar panel maintenance may utilize drone positioning, image analysis, and processing to determine solar panel angle and clarity.

A rack, especially for photovoltaic modules, consists of a rounded, shaped guide, on which a main frame is fitted via at least three bearing-fitted grips, with an upper frame being attached to the top of the main frame in at least two support points, the upper frame being further connected to the main frame via linear actuators. The main frame is based on the guide by means of track rollers, whose number is equal to the number of support points, and at least two anchoring elements are located on the outer perimeter of the guide, the anchoring elements arranged in at least two points within an angular distance not smaller than 15 degrees from each other. A driving chain is anchored in a non-stationary fashion on anchoring elements to the guide, from the outer side of the guide and in the lower part of the guide, and a driving mechanism is attached to the main frame, the driving mechanism consisting of a driving toothed element, connected to a motor, and of tension rollers.