A photovoltaic apparatus includes: a power generation part; an angle changeable mechanism configured to support the power generation part so as to be able to change an elevation of the power generation part; a post configured to support the power generation part and the angle changeable mechanism; and a hinge mechanism configured to support the post so as to be able to change an angle of the post relative to an installation surface for the photovoltaic apparatus.

A system for controlling a rotation of one or more solar panels about an axis of rotation, comprising one or more solar panels defining a longitudinal axis, one or more bellows actuators coupled to the one or more solar panels and defining an axis of rotation parallel to the longitudinal axis of the panels, a fluid source, a first valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, a second valve circuit coupled to the bellows actuators and the fluid source, and a controller, wherein introduction or release of fluid from one or more of the bellows actuators is configured to cause rotation of the one or more actuators about the axis of rotation.

An actuator that includes a bottom plate, a top-plate, and a first and second hub assembly extending between the bottom and top plates. The actuator can further include a first and second bellows disposed on opposing sides of the hub assemblies, the first and second bellows each extending between and coupled to the top plate and bottom plate. The actuator can also include a plurality of washers disposed between the top and bottom plates, with each of the washers coupled to the first and second hub assembly, a first set of the plurality of washers surrounding the first bellows and a second set of the plurality of washers surrounding the second bellows.

A pneumatic control unit configured to inflate a first and second set of bellows with fluid from a pneumatic fluid source via a pneumatic circuit, the first and second set of bellows associated with one or more pneumatic actuators. The pneumatic control unit determines a target configuration of the actuators based on a determined current position of the sun; determines a current configuration of the actuators; determines a difference between the determined current configuration and target configuration of the actuators; determines that the difference between current configuration and the target configuration of the actuators is outside of a tolerance range; and actuates the actuators toward the determined target configuration by at least one of inflating the first or second set of bellows with fluid from the pneumatic fluid source via the pneumatic circuit.

A dual-axis hydraulic joint system includes a vertical shaft, a horizontal shaft, and a hydraulic system. The vertical shaft allows a yaw rotational motion and the horizontal shaft allows a pitch rotational motion, wherein the rotational motion of the vertical shaft and the horizontal shaft is controlled by the hydraulic system. In doing so, the hydraulic system manages a pressure value within a vertical shaft enclosure that holds the vertical shaft, and also manages a pressure value within a horizontal shaft enclosure which holds the horizontal shaft. The pressure value within the vertical shaft enclosure or the horizontal shaft enclosure is either increased or decreased to determine the rotational direction of the vertical shaft or the horizontal shaft. When used for solar panel direction control, the hydraulic system operates according to feedback received from a light-sensor unit, a first encoding unit, and a second encoding unit.

A solar panel assembly comprises a plurality of solar panel arrays, each substantially parallel, where the plurality of solar panel arrays comprises a windward array located at an upwind perimeter of the solar panel assembly, where each of the plurality of solar panel arrays comprises a plurality of racking structures. The rotatable shaft of the windward array comprises a thickness and a length that provides a torsional stiffness, which allows the rotatable shaft of the windward array to deflect 60-80 degrees from a horizontal plane, that is perpendicular to length of the stationary structural member, in response to an applied torque from wind speeds on the windward array in excess of 70 mph, thus positioning the solar panels mounted to the windward array to shield the plurality of solar panel arrays located downwind from the windward array from high wind loads.

A solar panel support apparatus comprising: a support frame for holding the solar panel; a support post pivotally connected to the support frame at a post pivot connection and anchored to an adjacent supporting surface, the support post for positioning the support frame above the supporting surface; and a linear actuator coupled at a proximal end to the support post by a support pivot connection and at a distal end by a frame pivot connection with the support frame, the post pivot connection and the frame pivot connection spaced apart from one another on the support frame; wherein a change in a length of the linear actuator results in pivoting of the support frame about the post pivot connection.

A solar actuator comprises a top coupler, a bottom coupler, and a plurality of fluidic bellows actuators, wherein a fluidic bellows actuator of the plurality of fluidic bellows actuators moves the top coupler relative to the bottom coupler.

A solar tracking carport comprises a supporting structure including a foundation and at least two columns connected or connectable to the foundation; a three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck having a length from a first edge to a second edge of at least one car, the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck including one or more upper blocks, each of the upper blocks being rigid at least in its longitudinal direction, each of the upper blocks including at least one solar panel; a deck frame configured to support the one or more upper blocks, the deck frame including a torque transmitting member; a rotation enabling connection configured to rotatably connect at least the torque transmitting member of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck to the at least two columns of the supporting structure; and a drive system configured to control tilting of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck about the supporting structure over one axis of rotation to a first maximum angle in a first direction and to a second maximum angle in a second direction, the first maximum angle preventing the first edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going below a first minimum threshold height, the second maximum angle preventing the second edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going below a second minimum threshold height.

A series of photovoltaic panels (PV) arranged on a planar, horizontal support platform so as to form a PV array that is pivotally connected to a PV array support structure that can pivotally raise, angle and support the PV array above agricultural fields at heights that allow the passage of large mechanized farm equipment to pass beneath. The PV array support structure pivotally raises its PV array into its operating elevation and positional range with a system of motorized pivot arms operationally positioned between its array columns and the members of the support frame. Once in place, these PV arrays may be horizontally moved by tilting or angling the array columns within a specified operating range (by computer positioning known as dynamic shifting). At the same time, the PV panels may all be optimally tilted for sun sharing and sun shading for both the generation of electricity and to increase the agricultural efficiency of the underlying land.