Automated solar collector installation design
View Patent ↗Embodiments may include systems and methods to create and edit a representation of a worksite, to create various data objects, to classify such objects as various types of pre-defined “features” with attendant properties and layout constraints. As part of or in addition to classification, an embodiment may include systems and methods to create, associate, and edit intrinsic and extrinsic properties to these objects. A design engine may apply of design rules to the features described above to generate one or more solar collectors installation design alternatives, including generation of on-screen and/or paper representations of the physical layout or arrangement of the one or more design alternatives.
1. An apparatus configured to automate the design of a solar collector installation at a physical worksite, comprising:
at least one processor; and
a memory comprising instructions that are executable by the at least one processor to implement a user interface; the user interface comprising:
a representation of at least a portion of the physical worksite, the representation comprising at least one geometric object, wherein the geometric object corresponds to a physical feature at the physical worksite;
a control operable to classify the geometric object as an instance of a particular feature classification selected from a plurality of defined feature classifications, wherein at least one of the plurality of pre-defined feature classifications is a property boundary, a real-estate parcel boundary, a zoning designation, a utility right-of-way, a flood plain, an environmentally-sensitive area, or a special seismic zone, wherein classification of the geometric object results in association of the geometric object with characteristics of the physical feature related to solar collector installation design; and
a control operable to automatically generate a solar collector installation design for installation at the physical worksite in accordance with the geometric object, the feature classification, and the characteristics of the physical feature, wherein the control operable to automatically generate a solar collector installation design for installation at the physical worksite is further operable to generate the solar collector installation design in accordance with a set of pre-defined project design rules.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 ,
wherein the representation further comprises a second geometric object corresponding to a second physical feature at the physical worksite;
wherein the user interface further comprises a control operable to classify the second geometric object as an instance of a second feature classification of the plurality of pre-existing feature classifications, wherein classification of the second geometric object results in association of the instance of the second feature classification with characteristics of the second physical feature related to solar collector layout design; and
wherein the control operable to automatically generate a solar collector installation design for installation is further operable to generate a solar collector installation design for installation at the physical worksite in accordance with the first feature classification, the associated characteristics of the physical feature, the second feature classification, and the associated characteristics of the second physical feature.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the solar collector installation design comprises a layout of solar collectors.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the solar collector installation design comprises a layout of solar collectors and at least one of the group of associated mounting hardware and electrical components necessary for the proper operation of the installation.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the specification of characteristics of the physical feature as related to solar collector layout design comprises properties of the physical feature.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of pre-defined feature classifications corresponds to intangible features at the physical worksite.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control operable to automatically generate a layout of solar collectors for installation at the physical worksite is further operable to generate the layout of solar collectors in accordance with a set of design preferences.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the set of design preferences comprises at least one design preference selected from the group consisting of collector type, orientation, layout starting point, mounting system, and spacing.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the pre-defined project design rules defines at least one of the group comprising an electrical code regulation, a property setback requirement, a weight requirement, a safety requirement, an interconnection requirement, an engineering rule or best practice, and a fusing requirement.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the characteristics of the physical feature related to solar collector layout design comprises at least a partial set of information for the automatic placement of solar collectors within or around that physical feature.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises a control operable to modify the characteristics of the physical feature related to solar collector layout design before automatically determining the solar collector installation design.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user interface further comprises a control operable to modify the solar collector installation design.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , the control operable to modify the solar collector installation design is further operable to allow modification of the solar collector installation design in contravention of at least a portion of the partial specification of characteristics of the physical feature.
14. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to implement:
providing, for display, a representation of at least a portion of a physical worksite of a solar collector installation, the representation comprising at least one geometric object, wherein the geometric object corresponds to a physical feature at the physical worksite;
receiving a selection of a feature classification from a plurality of feature classes to classify the geometric object as an instance of the feature classification, wherein classification of the geometric object results in association of the instance of the feature classification with characteristics of the physical feature; and
automatically generating a solar collector installation design for installation at the physical worksite in accordance with the geometric object, the feature classification, the characteristics of the physical feature, and a set of project properties not associated with any geometric object, wherein the set of project properties comprises at least one pre-defined customer property.
15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the set of project properties comprises at least one project property drawn from the group consisting of soil type, weather conditions, design temperature, design seismic load, operating characteristics, load limits, and electrical interconnection requirements, building codes.
16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14 , wherein the customer property is drawn from the group of contact information, legal status, financial condition, utility information, utility rate, and energy consumption.
17. A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions, wherein the instructions are executable by a processor to implement automating the design of a solar collector installation at a physical worksite, comprising:
providing, for display, a representation of a geometric object, wherein the geometric object corresponds to a physical feature at the physical worksite;
receiving a classification of the geometric object as an instance of a type of feature, wherein the classification results in association of the geometric object with parameters of the type of feature;
receiving a modification to the parameters associated with the geometric object; and
generating a solar collector installation design for installation at the physical worksite based, at least in part, on the geometric object and the received modification, and a set of project properties not associated with any geometric object wherein the set of project properties comprises at least one pre-defined customer property.