Granted Patent B2

US 12,411,476 · App. 18/064,570 · Granted Sep 9, 2025

Inventors: Sarbajit K. Rakshit (Kolkata, IN); Manikandan Padmanaban (Chennai, IN); Jagabondhu Hazra (Bangalore, IN)

Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation

G05B19/4155G05B2219/37283

Abstract

Claims (348)

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

retrieving, by one or more processors, data associated with a solar irradiance profile and a shadow-effect energy generator (SEG) shadow profile;

predicting, by the one or more processors, an irradiance profile based on the data;

predicting, by the one or more processors, a shadow contrast ratio based on the data;

predicting, by the one or more processors, a SEG shadow profile based on the data;

calculating, by the one or more processors, optimized control parameters associated with a mirror based on the irradiance profile, the shadow contrast ratio and the SEG shadow profile; and

adjusting, by the one or more processors, an inclination angle of the mirror based on the control parameters.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the predicting the irradiance profile, the predicting the shadow contrast ratio, and the predicting the SEG shadow profile employ a spatial temporal learning model.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the data comprises a selection from the group consisting of: geolocation data, terrain topography data, irradiance satellite observation data, time of day data, and solar panel area data.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating is based on an equation:

J

=

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

L

i

(

L

i

r

-

L

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

C

⁢

R

i

(

C

⁢

R

i

r

-

C

⁢

R

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

C

⁢

R

i

(

R

i

r

-

R

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

u

⁡

(

a

)

i

(

Δ

⁢

u

)

2

,

wherein J is a cost function over a receding horizon; L i r is an optimal irradiance for an instant “i;” L i m , is a measured irradiance for the instant “i;” CR i r is an optimal shadow contrast ratio for the instant “i” from a knowledge base; CR i m is a chosen shadow contrast for the instant “i;” R i r is an optimal relative shadow position for the instant “i” from the knowledge base; R i m is a captured relative shadow position for the instant “i,” which is a function of a horizontal and lateral position of the SEG; u is a respective mirror controller variable; w CR i is a weighting coefficient for the instant shadow contrast ratio; w L i is a weighting coefficient for the instant irradiance; w u(α) i is a penalizing coefficient for large changes in an instant mirror angle controller inclination; and α is a mirror angle, respectively; and the receding horizon cost function is subject to constraints defined as 0≤L i m ≤L max , 0≤CR i m ≤CR max and 0≤R i m ≤R max for selected shadow profile and irradiance profile.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the calculating is performed on a predetermined time interval.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the inclination angle of the mirror is constrained to a predetermined maximum change in angle.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the adjusting the inclination angle of the mirror is based on an optimal angle for maximizing power output of a predetermined number of adjacent solar panels.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the irradiance profile entirely illuminates an adjacent solar panel.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the predicting an irradiance profile is based on a weather forecast for a latitude and longitude associated with a location of the mirror.

10. A computer system comprising:

a solar panel;

a mounting system for the solar panel;

a mirror positioned adjacent to the solar panel;

an inclinometer and an actuator operable to change an inclination angle of the mirror;

a shadow-effect energy generator (SEG) positioned adjacent to the solar panel;

a processor set;

one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media to cause the processor set to perform operations comprising:

retrieving data associated with a solar irradiance profile and a SEG shadow profile;

predicting an irradiance profile based on the data;

predicting a shadow contrast ratio based on the data;

predicting a SEG shadow profile based on the data;

calculating control parameters associated with the mirror based on the irradiance profile, the shadow contrast ratio, and the SEG shadow profile; and

adjusting an inclination angle of the mirror based on the control parameters.

11. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the predicting the irradiance profile, the predicting the shadow contrast ratio, and the predicting the SEG shadow profile employ a spatial temporal learning model.

12. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the data comprises a selection from the group consisting of: geolocation data, terrain topography data, irradiance satellite observation data, time of day data, and solar panel area data.

13. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the calculating is based on an equation:

J

=

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

L

i

(

L

i

r

-

L

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

C

⁢

R

i

(

C

⁢

R

i

r

-

C

⁢

R

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

C

⁢

R

i

(

R

i

r

-

R

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

u

⁡

(

a

)

i

(

Δ

⁢

u

)

2

,

wherein J is a cost function over a receding horizon; L i r is an optimal irradiance for an instant “i;” L i m , is a measured irradiance for the instant “i;” CR i r is an optimal shadow contrast ratio for the instant “i” from a knowledge base; CR i m is a chosen shadow contrast for the instant “i;” R i r is an optimal relative shadow position for the instant “i” from the knowledge base; R i m is a captured relative shadow position for the instant “i,” which is a function of a horizontal and lateral position of the SEG; u is a respective mirror controller variable; w CR i is a weighting coefficient for the instant shadow contrast ratio; w L i is a weighting coefficient for the instant irradiance; w u(α) i is a penalizing coefficient for large changes in an instant mirror angle controller inclination; and α is a mirror angle, respectively; and the receding horizon cost function is subject to constraints defined as 0≤L i m ≤L max , 0≤CR i m ≤CR max and 0≤R i m ≤R max for selected shadow profile and irradiance profile.

14. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the calculate are calculating is performed on a predetermined time interval.

15. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting the inclination angle of the mirror is constrained to a predetermined maximum change in angle.

16. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the adjusting the inclination angle of the mirror is based on an optimal angle for maximizing power output of a predetermined number of adjacent solar panels.

17. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the irradiance profile entirely illuminates an adjacent solar panel.

18. The computer system of claim 10 , wherein the predicting an irradiance profile is based on a weather forecast for a latitude and longitude associated with a location of the mirror.

19. A computer program product comprising:

one or more computer readable storage media; and

program instructions stored on the one or more computer readable storage media to perform operations comprising:

retrieving data associated with a solar irradiance profile and an shadow-effect energy generator (SEG) shadow profile;

predicting an irradiance profile based on the data;

predicting a shadow contrast ratio based on the data;

predicting a SEG shadow profile based on the data;

calculating control parameters associated with a mirror based on the irradiance profile, the shadow contrast ratio and the SEG shadow profile; and

adjusting an inclination angle of the mirror based on the control parameters.

20. The computer program product of claim 19 , wherein the calculating is based on an equation:

J

=

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

L

i

(

L

i

r

-

L

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

C

⁢

R

i

(

C

⁢

R

i

r

-

C

⁢

R

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

C

⁢

R

i

(

R

i

r

-

R

i

m

(

α

)

)

2

+

∑

i

=

1

N

⁢

w

u

⁡

(

a

)

i

(

Δ

⁢

u

)

2

,

wherein J is a cost function over a receding horizon; L i r is an optimal irradiance for an instant “i;” L i m , is a measured irradiance for the instant “i;” CR i r is an optimal shadow contrast ratio for the instant “i” from a knowledge base; CR i m is a chosen shadow contrast for the instant “i;” R i r is an optimal relative shadow position for the instant “i” from the knowledge base; R i m is a captured relative shadow position for the instant “i,” which is a function of a horizontal and lateral position of the SEG; u is a respective mirror controller variable; w CR i is a weighting coefficient for the instant shadow contrast ratio; w L i is a weighting coefficient for the instant irradiance; w u(α) i is a penalizing coefficient for large changes in an instant mirror angle controller inclination; and α is a mirror angle, respectively; and the receding horizon cost function is subject to constraints defined as 0≤L i m ≤L max , 0≤CR i m ≤CR max and 0≤R i m ≤R max for selected shadow profile and irradiance profile.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (15)