An automated control system for a screw anchor driving and truss assembly machine. A positioning subsystem determines an orientation of a machine mast's driving axis relative to an intended drive axis and controls the mast to align with the intended drive axis. After a pair of adjacent screw anchors are drive, the controller orients the mast so that an alignment jig for supporting truss apex hardware is held relative to a predetermined point in space.

An A-frame-shaped truss foundation system for a single-axis tracker with a bearing assembly sitting atop a pair of adjacent angled truss legs joined together with an adapter so that the axis of rotation of the tracker is aligned with a work point of the A-frame. Several such foundation systems are arranged along a North-South row to support a tracker torque tube.

An A-frame-shaped truss foundation system for a single-axis tracker with a bearing assembly sitting atop a pair of adjacent angled truss legs joined together with an adapter so that the axis of rotation of the tracker is aligned with a work point of the A-frame. Several such foundation systems are arranged along a North-South row to support a tracker torque tube.

A passive locking chuck for a rotary driver. The chuck receives the driving end of a foundation component such a screw anchor to be driven into the ground. As the driving end is inserted into the chuck, spring biased pawls are displaced until insertion is complete. The geometry of each pawl dictates that less force is required to insert the foundation component than to remove it. The chuck has a geometry that mates with the geometry of the driving end of the foundation component.

An alignment and installation jig for a screw anchor driving machine. The alignment and installation jig includes a laser target that can be moved from an alignment position to a driving position. The jig may also include one or more automated crimping assemblies to form permanent connections between overlapping foundation components while the machine is correctly oriented.

A solar assembly includes a single-slope crossbeam, a plurality of clip angle brackets, and a plurality of photovoltaic (PV) modules. Each PV module is supported by at least two of the plurality of clip angle brackets, and a height of the plurality of angle brackets differ from each other in order to allow the PV modules to be shingled.

An automated feedback-based system for driving foundation components to a desired embedment depth. A digital controller executing a stored control program controls driving components arranged on a mast of the driving machine including a drive chain motor, a rotary driver, a tool driver, and a source of compressed air. An array of sensors provides real-time feedback to a digital controller about the automated driving operation that enables the controller to adjust the operation of one or more of the driving components based on real-time driving conditions.

A machine for driving a pair of screw anchors at substantially the same time. An attachment supports a pair of independent drive assemblies. Each assembly consists of a rotary driver and tool driver that moves along respective driving arms to independently drive a pair of screw anchors into supporting ground at different angles. Each assembly may move with respect to the machine independently to drive anchors into the ground in overlapping time, or both may rotate at once to drive anchors into the ground sequentially.

A universal adapter for enabling truss foundations to support conventional single-axis trackers. In some cases, the adapter has a main body with an upper portion that presents a standard I-beam interface with pre-drilled holes to interface to a specific single-axis tracker. A pair of connecting portions point down and away from the main body and enable upper leg sections to connect the adapter to a pair of driven screw anchors located below it. The connecting portions may orient the truss so that the rotational axis of the single-axis tracker is aligned with the work point of the truss foundation made from the adapter, upper legs, and driven screw anchors. This will enable to the truss to interface with many different trackers much like conventional plumb-driven H-pile foundations.

A universal adapter for enabling truss foundations to support conventional single-axis trackers. In some cases, the adapter has a main body with an upper portion that presents a standard I-beam interface with pre-drilled holes to interface to a specific single-axis tracker. A pair of connecting portions point down and away from the main body and enable upper leg sections to connect the adapter to a pair of driven screw anchors located below it. The connecting portions may orient the truss so that the rotational axis of the single-axis tracker is aligned with the work point of the truss foundation made from the adapter, upper legs, and driven screw anchors. This will enable to the truss to interface with many different trackers much like conventional plumb-driven H-pile foundations.