Various embodiments may include collecting, by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), a measuring image of an assessed heliostat in a heliostat field. The measuring image of the assessed heliostat includes an assessed facet forming a reflective surface of the assessed heliostat. At least a portion of a reference heliostat is visible in a reflection on the assessed facet. Also, a surface normal variance between a calculated surface normal of the assessed heliostat and a presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat may be collected. The calculated surface normal is determined from a point on the assessed facet that corresponds to one or more features of the reference heliostat identifiable in the reflection. The presumed surface normal of the assessed heliostat may be updated based on the determined surface normal variance.

Systems and methods for autonomous drone-based solar panel maintenance may utilize drone positioning, image analysis, and processing to determine solar panel angle and clarity.

A method for controlling the orientation of a solar module (1) comprising a single-axis solar tracker (2) orientable about an axis of rotation (A), and a photovoltaic device (3) supported by said tracker and having upper and lower photoactive faces, comprising the followings steps:

measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called incident luminance originating from the incident solar radiation coming from the sky to reach the upper face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles;

measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called reflected luminance originating from the albedo solar radiation corresponding to the reflection of the solar radiation on the ground to reach the lower face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles;

determination of an optimum orientation considering the measurements of said distributions of the incident and reflected solar luminance;

servo-control of the orientation of the module on said optimum orientation.

A system and method for localization and calibration of a heliostat is disclosed. The system comprises a controller and a camera configured to acquire images of a plurality of heliostats. The controller and camera are configured to acquire a first image of the plurality of heliostats, move one of the plurality of heliostats, acquire a second image of the plurality of heliostats, generate a difference image by subtracting the second image from the first image, identify the heliostat that was moved based on the difference image, and calibrate the position or orientation of the heliostat based on the difference image. The difference image is generated by pixel-wise subtraction of the second image from the first image. The pixel-wise subtraction exposes the heliostat and enables the calibration of the position and/or orientation of known heliostat positions.

A method and a system for positioning an apparatus for monitoring a parameter of one or more parabolic reflectors of a solar thermal field, wherein the method comprises positioning the apparatus at a first field location responsive to the position of the respective parabolic reflector, acquiring information of an absorber tube of the respective parabolic reflector, and positioning the apparatus at the second field location responsive to the information of the absorber tube, the second field location being beyond the focus of the respective parabolic reflector is provided.

The present disclosure describes non-intrusive optical (NIO) characterization methods which efficiency measures optical errors (such as mirror surface slope error, mirror canting error, and heliostat tracking error) of a heliostat field. The methods utilize photogrammetry and deflectometry to analyze an image taken of a heliostat to determine optical errors and increase the amount of solar energy delivered by the heliostat to the receiver.

A method for controlling the orientation of a solar module including a single-axis solar tracker orientable about an axis of rotation, and a photovoltaic device supported by said tracker and having upper and lower photoactive faces, including: measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called incident luminance originating from the incident solar radiation coming from the sky to reach the upper face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; measurement of a distribution of the solar luminance called reflected luminance originating from the albedo solar radiation corresponding to the reflection of the solar radiation on the ground to reach the lower face, said distribution being established according to several elevation angles; determination of an optimum orientation considering the measurements of said distributions of the incident and reflected solar luminance; servo-control of the orientation of the module on said optimum orientation.

A measurement device which enables to determine the optimum angle values and orientations of collectors/cells and which enables to measure both direct radiation and diffuse radiation, essentially includes a main body; a solar cell which generates current from solar energy; an actuation mechanism which is adapted to move the solar cell in horizontal and vertical axis; an upper cover which prevents the sun beams reaching the solar cell by covering the upper part of the main body; a second cover on each one of the lateral walls of the upper cover; a current detector which measures the current generated by the solar cell, a control unit which includes a processing unit adapted to generate angle signals that will move the first motor and second motor and determine the optimum angle values according to current information corresponding to the angle signals and the angle information corresponding to the current information.

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 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.