A crop management system comprising a crop management unit adapted and configured to sense environmental conditions and/or conditions of surrounding agricultural features and interact with such surrounding agricultural features. The crop management system can perform such functions as spraying, misting, dusting, seeding/planting, irrigation, vacuuming, trimming, harvesting, tilling, weeding, pollinating, aerating, pruning and/or any other known and/or convenient crop management function(s). Additionally, the crop management system can comprise an energy harvesting structure adapted and configured to harvest energy from the environment and, in some embodiments, delivery the energy to the crop management system.

A fluidic actuator including an angled bottom plate having a cap and first and second plate arms on opposing sides of and extending from the cap. The fluidic actuator further includes a top plate coupled about the cap of the angled bottom plate and a rotatable coupling of the angled bottom plate and top plate.

A single axis solar tracker includes two drive systems (motors) that both rotate a rotating shaft. The drive systems may be located about 16-25% from either longitudinal end of the rotating shaft.

Solar tracker systems include a torque tube, a column supporting the torque tube, a solar panel attached to the torque tube, and a damper assembly. The damper assembly includes an outer shell surrounding an inner shell and defining an outer fluid channel. A piston is positioned within the inner shell and moveable relative thereto. A locking valve of the damper assembly includes a shaft extending into a chamber and a seal attached to the shaft. The shaft is selectively moveable axially within the chamber along an extension axis between an unsealed position in which the seal is spaced from a chamber wall and a flow path is defined that extends from within the inner shell, through the chamber, and to the outer fluid channel, and a sealed position in which the seal contacts the chamber wall and the locking valve obstructs the flow path.

A solar tracker system having one or more solar trackers that each include one or more panels and one or more actuators coupled to the one or more panels, the one or more actuators having a first and second vessel; and an electronic control unit configured to inflate the first vessel with fluid from a fluid source and configured to separately inflate the second vessel with fluid from the fluid source. The electronic control unit is configured to determine that a stow event is present based on a first set of environmental data obtained from an environmental sensor that indicates environmental conditions pose a threat to the one or more solar trackers, and in response to determining that the stow event is present, actuate the one or more panels toward a stow configuration target angle by at least inflating the first or second vessels with fluid from the fluid source.

A tracking system for performing a movement control of a solar panel is provided, having a single axis solar tracking solution allowing an individual actuation of a solar panel and its respective rotation axis. The tracking system is applied in an individual solar panel, and has a local control unit, an electrical motor, a tracking actuator mechanism, a blockage unit and a tracking support mechanism, which is useful for solar power plant installations where individual panel tracking is an advantage due to site conditions such as irregular grounds or unstable locations as in aquatic sites or locations with variable slopes.

A fluidic actuation system for controlling rotation of one or more panels, having a first valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a first vessel and a fluid source, having a first and second valve; and a second valve circuit configured to be fluidically coupled to a second vessel and the fluid source, having a third and fourth valve. The first valve is configured to control a supply of fluid from the fluid source to the first vessel; the second valve is configured to release fluid from the first vessel; the third valve is configured to control a supply of the fluid from the fluid source to the second vessel; and the fourth valve is configured to release the fluid from the second vessel. Introduction or release of fluid from one or both the first and second vessels is configured to cause rotation of the one or more panels.

A solar panel optimization apparatus including a magnifying glass and a plurality of hydraulic legs attached to a rear surface of the magnifying glass. A control housing is also attached to the rear surface of the magnifying glass. A central processing unit having a light tracking system is disposed within the control housing. A solar panel has an adjustable support frame and an upper surface attached to a bottom end of each of the plurality of hydraulic legs. The light tracking system of the central processing unit is configured to selectively adjust the plurality of hydraulic legs in order to maximize the intensity of light disposed on the magnifying glass.

The solar tracking arrangement enables a plurality of parallel arranged PTCs to be directed towards the travelling sun. The solar tracking arrangement comprises a drive means, a transmission means, and a plurality of conversion means. The transmission means are connected with the drive means and to each of the plurality of conversion means. The transmission means is configured to convey an operating movement caused by the drive means to the plurality of conversion means, and each of the conversion means is configured to convert the conveyed operating movement into a pivoting movement of a respective one of the plurality of PTCs about a focus line, such that each of the pivoting movements directs the respective PTC towards the travelling sun. One or more of the conversion means are adjustably connected with the transmission means in a direction along the transmission means.

The present invention relates to a photovoltaic plant including a plurality of units each having at least one respective photovoltaic panel, a support structure of the plurality of units designed to support the latter at a distance from the ground (GR).