A floating platform for solar panels is provided. The floating platform may include a plurality of plates. Each of the plurality of plates may have a ballast chamber filled with a ballast material. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a float chamber disposed over the ballast chamber. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a channel passing through the ballast chamber and the float chamber. The channel may further have one or more openings to pass water into the ballast chamber and an opening to pass air from the channel. Each of the plurality of plates may further have a locking member. Each of the plurality of plates may further have one or more connection sections for placing one or more strap assemblies. The strap assemblies may be provided for disposing one or more solar panels on the plurality of plates.

A mounting assembly for securing fixtures to a mounting structure may include a first fastener, a washer, a mounting bracket, and second fastener. The first fastener may be coupled to the mounting structure through a mounting aperture. The washer may be disposed around shaft of the first fastener between a head of the first fastener and the mounting surface. The mounting bracket may be disposed on top of the first fastener. The second fastener may be disposed through the mounting bracket and coupled to head of the first fastener. The washer may be a sealing washer that dispenses liquid sealant under compressive force to moisture-proof the securement of the first fastener to the mounting surface.

A machine for rotary driving screw anchors into underlying ground and related. The machine has a mast with a rotary driver and a mandrel driver oriented on a common axis. The mandrel driver passes a mandrel through the rotary driver and the screw anchor to allow the mandrel to be actuated ahead of the screw anchor while the rotary driver drives the screw anchor into the ground. Alternatively, the mandrel driver may also drive a hammering drill through the screw anchor to clear a path ahead of it through subsurface rocks.

The solar energy and solar farms are used to generate energy and reduce dependence on oil (or for environmental purposes). The maintenance, operation, optimization, and repairs in big farms become very difficult, expensive, and inefficient, using human technicians. Thus, here, we teach using the robots with various functions and components, in various settings, for various purposes, to improve operations in big (or hard-to-access) farms, to automate, save money, reduce human mistakes, increase efficiency, or scale the solutions to very large scales or areas, e.g., for repair, operation, calibration, testing, maintenance, adjustment, cleaning, improving the efficiency, and tracking the Sun.

The single axis solar tracking assembly comprises a plurality of spine sections (2) connected to one another by universal joints (10), supporting legs (3) rotatably supporting the spine sections (2) on the ground, a plurality of brackets attached to each spine section (2), a plurality of rib members (4) connected to the brackets, and solar panels (5) secured to the rib members (4). The rib members (4) are moveable between a folded position and a deployed position. An auxiliary shaft is located between adjacent universal joints (10) connected to adjacent spine sections (2). First and second crossed spine hinge axes of the universal joints are arranged so that the spine sections (2) can be fold at right angles to the auxiliary shaft and the spine sections (2) can be fold in a zig zag fashion into a compact storage position in which the solar panels are arranged in adjacent parallel planes.

A solar array is mounted on a surface of a structure, the surface being generally planar. The solar array comprises a solar module and a support that supports the solar module a distance above the surface. The support defines a channel to receive the solar module. A locking mechanism engages the support to secure the solar module to the support, wherein the solar module extends between the support and the locking mechanism and into the channel such that the solar module is allowed to move relative to the support in a first plane generally parallel to the surface when the solar module is secured to the support. The locking mechanism and the support inhibit movement of the solar module in a second plane generally perpendicular to the surface when the solar module is secured to the support.

A truss foundation for single-axis trackers that are installed in climates that experience significant frost heave. Truss legs are oriented to be substantially plumb, to eliminate adfreeze moment on below-ground components in the frost zone. Different truss caps may be used depending on the type of single-axis tracker and/or tracker component is supported. In some cases, truss legs may curve just before entering the ground. In others, below-ground and above-ground components may extend along the same axis and remain plump with the truss cap providing additional elevation to for the tracker to clear the wider truss legs.

A coupler for joining truss leg components provides angular adjustability between the respective axis of the leg components. A prolate spheroid-shaped coupler with three channels circumscribing its surface enables the upper leg components to compensate for axial misalignment of driven screw anchors in all directions. A hydraulic crimping device with upper and lower crimping guides registers its position with features on the truss hardware to insure that blind triple crimps are performed consistently each time.

Mounting components of photovoltaic (PV) modules and PV module assemblies are described, including PV module couplings and PV module mounting chassis. In an example, a PV module includes a PV module coupling having a toe portion extending from a PV module frame, and a PV module mounting chassis includes a toe slot to receive the toe. The toe and toe slot construction allows for the PV module frame to be assembled to the PV module mounting chassis without using tools, and thus, permits a PV module assembly to be quickly constructed during installation of a PV module system. Furthermore, the toe and toe slot construction accommodates thermal expansion and other environmental loads seen after installation, while providing a grounding connection for the PV module assembly.

In the evaluation system according to the present embodiment, the height measurement device may further include a remote controller including a command transmission unit configured to transmit a laser radiation command, the laser radiation unit may include a command reception unit configured to receive the laser radiation command transmitted from the remote controller, and the laser radiation unit may radiate the laser beam in accordance with the laser radiation command received by the command reception unit. Thus, the laser beam is radiated in accordance with the laser radiation command from the remote controller, whereby workability is even more improved.