The invention involves a cargo carrier for vehicles that facilitates loading and unloading of items onto an enclosure; the cargo carrier may be automated and self-loading via actuators and a motorized mechanism that may be remotely controlled. The actuators may be configured to tilt the enclosure or a component thereof and one or more motors may be configured to deploy a deployable tray housed within the enclosure, which minimizes user loading or unloading labor. Typically, on a front end of the enclosure, one or more actuators may couple the enclosure to a portion of a vehicle support structure. The deployable tray may include a tiltable mechanism to further facilitate loading or unloading.

Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide and automatic endpin extension system to be used with an upright instrument, the system including a housing portion configured to be passed through a bottom aperture of an upright instrument, a coupling portion configured to be connected to the housing portion and to be coupled to the upright instrument proximate the bottom aperture, a telescoping endpin portion configured to be selectively moved up and down to extend out from, and withdraw into, the housing portion, a motor portion connected to the housing portion and configured to selectively drive the telescoping endpin portion up and down, and a controller portion configured to control the motor portion.

Example embodiments of the present general inventive concept provide and automatic endpin extension system to be used with an upright instrument, the system including a housing portion configured to be passed through a bottom aperture of an upright instrument, a coupling portion configured to be connected to the housing portion and to be coupled to the upright instrument proximate the bottom aperture, a telescoping endpin portion configured to be selectively moved up and down to extend out from, and withdraw into, the housing portion, a motor portion connected to the housing portion and configured to selectively drive the telescoping endpin portion up and down, and a controller portion configured to control the motor portion.

A solar tracking system comprises multiple solar panel modules forming a grid of solar panel modules, wherein the multiple solar panel modules are movable relative to a solar source independently of each other; and a control system configured to orient each of the multiple solar panel modules to the solar source independently of each other based on a performance model to optimize an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules, wherein the performance model predicts an energy output from the grid of solar panel modules based on a topography of the area containing the grid of solar panel modules and weather conditions local to each of the solar panel modules.

A method for controlling the orientation of a single-axis solar tracker (1) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), said method repetitively completing successive control phases, where each control phase implements the following successive steps: a) observing the cloud coverage above the solar tracker (1); b) comparing the observed cloud coverage with cloud coverage models stored in a database, each cloud coverage model being associated to an orientation setpoint value of the solar tracker; c) matching the observed cloud coverage with a cloud coverage model; d) servo-controlling the orientation of the solar tracker by applying the orientation setpoint value associated to said cloud coverage model retained during step c). The present invention finds application in the field of solar trackers.

A solar tracker system comprising a solar tracker. The solar tracker includes one or more solar panels and a first dampening assembly comprising a dampener that provides dampening of rotation of the one or more solar panels to provide for dampening of the solar tracker and the one or more solar panels, the dampener reducing undesirable oscillations of the one or more solar panels of the solar tracker.

A method for electrically producing a stalled state in a stepper motor having a first coil and a second coil is provided. The method includes driving a first sinusoidal current through the first coil, and driving a second sinusoidal current through the second coil, wherein the first and second sinusoidal currents are in phase.

A method for electrically producing a stalled state in a stepper motor having a first coil and a second coil is provided. The method includes driving a first sinusoidal current through the first coil, and driving a second sinusoidal current through the second coil, wherein the first and second sinusoidal currents are in phase.

A system is provided. The system includes 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 information and a shadow model for determining placement of shadows based on positions of objects relative to the sun, determine a position of the sun at a first specific point in time, retrieve height information for the tracker and at least one adjacent tracker, execute the shadow model based on the retrieved height information and the position of the sun, determine a first angle for the tracker based on the executed shadow model, and transmit instructions to the rotational mechanism to change the plane of the tracker to the first angle.

A landing gear controller (120) to control extension and retraction of a landing gear for an aircraft, the landing gear controller (120) configured to cause, during an aircraft take-off or landing procedure, a landing gear extension and retraction system (110) to perform only a first portion of a landing gear extension or retraction process, on the basis of a status of the aircraft and prior to receiving a command for the landing gear to be extended or retracted.