Articulating joint solar panel array
Systems and methods for providing and controlling solar panel arrays are provided. The solar panel array may include one or more articulating joints that may provide variability in the arrangement of solar panels, which may allow the solar panel array to be distributed over varying types of underlying surfaces. The articulating joints may allow orientations of solar panels to be different relative to one another. The articulating joints may convey rotational force across the joints, so that a rotational force used to drive a first solar panel may also be conveyed across the joint and used to drive a second solar panel. The controls system may include row-specific semi-autonomous, or autonomous, controllers as well as controllers to interface with multiple rows. The controllers may include sensors to measure system power generation and basic operations aspects of the solar field to directly measure, or infer, module shading within the solar field. The controller may use this shading and operations data to identify shading, mitigate shading, identify methods to increase power generation, and identify optimum tilt angles for the tracker rows.
1 . A method for controlling solar panels within a solar panel array under solar illumination, the method comprising:
measuring electric power generated by the solar illumination through a first solar panel oriented at a first angle and a second solar panel oriented at a second angle, the first solar panel and the second solar panel coupled to each other and to at least one solar panel support capable of rotating about a first rotation axis and capable of orienting at least one of the first solar panel and the second solar panel about the first rotation axis;
determining a third angle of the first solar panel and a fourth angle of the second solar panel based on the first angle and the second angle of the first solar panel and the second solar panel and based on the electric power measured through the first solar panel and second solar panel; and
controlling rotation of the first solar panel and second solar panel to reorient them to the third angle and the fourth angle, respectively,
wherein the first solar panel and second solar panel are coupled to a bearing assembly and a driving mechanism, the bearing assembly disposed between the first solar panel and the second solar panel so that the first solar panel and the second solar panel are not disposed over the bearing assembly, the bearing assembly disposed over a first support post extending in a vertical direction and arranged to keep the first solar panel and the second solar panel at a same orientation relative to each other, the driving mechanism spaced apart from and configured to rotate the bearing assembly, comprising a motor, and disposed over a second support post spaced apart from the first support post, the first solar panel disposed between the driving mechanism and the second solar panel.
2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the third angle and the fourth angle increase total electric power generated in the solar panel array by the solar illumination compared to the first angle and the second angle.
3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly does not overlap any solar panel in the vertical direction.
4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling rotation of the first solar panel and second solar panel is mechanically accomplished via the driving mechanism driving the at least one solar panel support.
5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling rotation of the first solar panel and second solar panel is an operation controlled by a single controller.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the single controller receives data comprising the measured electric power generated by the solar illumination through the first solar panel and the second solar panel.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotation axis is 60 degrees or greater and 90 degrees or less relative to the first support post.
8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first rotation axis is perpendicular to the first support post.
9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein a bearing is disposed between the first solar panel and second solar panel and over the first support post.
10 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar panel support has an axis parallel to a plane of the first solar panel.
11 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the solar panel array comprises a third solar panel coupled to the first solar panel and second solar panel having a different plane than at least one of the first solar panel and second solar panel.
12 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the drive mechanism is powered by a battery comprised in the solar panel array.
13 . The method of claim 1 , wherein:
the first solar panel and the second solar panel are comprised in a first row and the solar panel array comprises a second row of other solar panels neighboring the first row,
the measuring electric power generated by the solar illumination comprises measuring total power generation of the first row and the second row, and
the controlling rotation further comprises rotating at least some of the other solar panels in the second row.
14 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the first angle of the first solar panel and the second angle of the second solar panel, the at least one solar panel support comprising a first solar panel support attached to the first solar panel and capable of rotating about a first rotation axis and the second solar panel attached to a second solar panel support capable of rotating about a second rotation axis.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the first solar panel support is connected to the second solar panel support in such a manner that the first rotation axis and the second rotation axis are not colinear.
16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein controlling rotation of the first solar panel and second solar panel comprises controlling a first rotation of the first solar panel around the first rotation axis to mechanically drive a second rotation of the second solar panel around the second rotation axis.
17 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least one solar panel support is capable of orienting the first solar panel and second solar panel on a same plane.
18 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the controlling rotation of the first solar panel and second solar panel decreases total power generated by the solar panel array by the solar illumination.
19 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the bearing assembly is arranged to keep the first solar panel and the second solar panel colinear relative to each other.
20 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel each comprise a frame.