IP Library › Granted Patent US 12712489
Granted Patent B1
US 12712489 · App. 18/240,949 · Granted Aug 18, 2026

Solar panel calculation system

Inventors: Michael Kyne (Saint Petersburg, FL); Amanda Michelle Boyd (Denver, CO); Galo Alava (Tampa, FL); Sydney Ann Conrad-Cook (Van Meter, IA); Courtney Evans (Fourney, TX); Gregory Mark Lamontagne (Helotes, TX); Spencer Funk (Hot Springs, AR); Jess W. Gingrich (San Antonio, TX)
Assignee: United States Automobile Association (USAA)
H02S50/00G06T7/11G06T7/62G06T2200/24G06T2207/10032G06T2207/30184G06T2207/30242H02S20/23
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12712489
App. No.
18/240,949
Granted
Aug 18, 2026
Kind
B1
Abstract

Systems and methods for calculating a number of solar panels from imaging data are provided. A computing system may receive imaging data including images of one or more solar arrays, wherein each of the one or more solar arrays comprises a plurality of solar panels. The computing system may determine a total area of each of the one or more solar arrays from the imaging data. The computing system may also calculate a number of the solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays using the total determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays. The calculated number of solar panels may be used in appraisal and valuation of a property.

Claims (40)

1 . A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing system, imaging data including images of one or more solar arrays, wherein each of the one or more solar arrays comprises a plurality of solar panels;

determining, by the computing system, a total area of each of the one or more solar arrays from the imaging data; and

calculating, by the computing system, a number of the solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays using the total determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays, wherein calculating comprises automatically calculating the number of solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein determining comprises automatically determining the total area of each of the one or more solar arrays.

3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising generating an appraisal of a property using the calculated number of solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving comprises receiving photographs of the one or more solar arrays.

5 . A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing system, imaging data including images of one or more solar arrays, wherein each of the one or more solar arrays comprises a plurality of solar panels;

determining, by the computing system, a total area of each of the one or more solar arrays from the imaging data, wherein determining comprises extracting an image of the periphery of each of the one or more solar panels to determine the total area of each of the one or more solar arrays; and

calculating, by the computing system, a number of the solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays using the total determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein calculating comprises calculating the number of solar panels by dividing the total area of each of the one or more solar arrays by an average area of a solar panel.

7 . A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing system, imaging data including images of one or more solar arrays, wherein each of the one or more solar arrays comprises a plurality of solar panels;

determining, by the computing system, a total area of each of the one or more solar arrays from the imaging data; and

calculating, by the computing system, a number of the solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays using the total determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays, wherein calculating comprises calculating the number of solar panels by dividing the total area of each of the one or more solar arrays by an average area of a solar panel, wherein the average area of the solar panel is determined by calculating an approximate average area of frequently used commercially available solar panels.

8 . A method, comprising:

receiving, at a computing system, imaging data including images of one or more solar arrays, wherein each of the one or more solar arrays comprises a plurality of solar panels;

determining, by the computing system, a total area of each of the one or more solar arrays from the imaging data; and

calculating, by the computing system, a number of the solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays using the total determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays, wherein calculating comprises calculating the number of solar panels by dividing the total area of each of the one or more solar arrays by an average area of a solar panel, wherein the average area of the solar panel is determined by calculating an approximate average area of solar panels of a particular type of solar panel.

9 . A system, comprising:

a processor; and

tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media, comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine an area of one or more solar arrays from imaging data of the one or more solar arrays; and

calculate a number of solar panels in each of the one or more solar arrays based on the determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays, wherein the processor is configured to automatically calculate the number of solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays when the instructions are executed by the processor.

10 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the imaging data from an aerial vehicle.

11 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the imaging data from a mass storage device.

12 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the processor is configured to receive the imaging data, and wherein the imaging data comprises one or more photographs.

13 . The system of claim 9 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media, comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to utilize the calculated number of solar panels in determining a value of a property comprising the solar panels.

14 . The system of claim 9 , comprising a display and a user interface.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the tangible, non-transitory, computer-readable media, comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to utilize information input by a user at the user interface and wherein the information is used to adjust the calculation of the number of solar panels.

16 . A system, comprising:

a mass storage device; and

a processor configured to:

receive imaging data including one or more solar arrays from the mass storage device;

determine an area of one or more solar arrays from the imaging data; and

calculate a number of solar panels in each of the one or more solar arrays based on the determined area of each of the one or more solar arrays, wherein the processor is configured to automatically calculate the number of solar panels on each of the one or more solar arrays.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the mass storage device is configured to receive the imaging data from one or more aerial vehicles.

18 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to generate an appraisal of a property utilizing the calculated number of solar panels.

19 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the processor is configured to calculate the number of solar panels by dividing the area of each of the one or more solar arrays by an average area of a solar panel.