Energy harvesting vehicle

Abstract

To provide an energy harvesting vehicle with an energy harvesting structure connected with a vehicle panel for generating electric energy.SOLUTION: An energy harvesting structure (103) comprises a predetermined number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) for receiving incident light over different periods. At least one of the surfaces (301, 302, 303) comprises solar units (304, 305, 306) for collecting the incident light. The predetermined number of solar units (304, 305, 306) positioned in areas of the surfaces (301, 302, 303) are connected in series or in parallel with each other to reduce a loss when the energy harvesting structure (103) generates electric energy on the basis of collected incident radiation.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to photovoltaic devices and, more particularly, to an energy harvesting vehicle with an energy harvesting structure for on-board energy generation. [Background technology]

[0002] Photovoltaic devices such as solar panels are a viable solution to address the current and likely future energy crisis the world faces. Solar panels are used as an energy source in many commercial and domestic applications, such as vehicles, cooking, and heating. Solar panels on vehicles have not seen much commercial use in the past due to their low efficiency and rigidity. However, in recent years, efficiency has improved and solar panels can now be made semi-rigid without losing efficiency. This makes them very suitable for on-board energy generation. Solar concentrators are typically mounted on the roof, doors, canopy, body panels, etc. of the vehicle.

[0003] Solar concentrators, when placed on the canopy or roof of a vehicle, can have a large area available for generating energy under sunlight. However, small vehicles such as four-wheelers, three-wheelers or two-wheelers do not have enough flat area on their roofs, except for large vehicles such as buses / trucks / trains, which have a large flat area on their roofs. As a result, solar panels are also mounted on non-flat surfaces to meet the energy requirements of the vehicle. For example, in a car, multiple areas such as the roof, front / rear bonnet, doors, etc. can be used to mount solar panels, while in the case of a scooter, the canopy above the vehicle is most likely used for mounting solar concentrators. This causes the solar modules placed there to receive different levels of illumination depending on the shape of the canopy / roof and its orientation with respect to the position of the sun. The solar panels may also be partially shaded or partially dusty. Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] A solar panel has a string of solar cells connected in series. However, the configuration of cells on this string is done in a generic way by the manufacturer without considering the shape and orientation of the roof / canopy on which the solar panel will be installed. When such solar panels with solar cells connected in series are exposed to different levels of illumination / dust accumulation, a large power loss occurs. This adversely affects the functioning of the solar panel and therefore customized solar module design and connection is required to reduce the power loss caused by uneven illumination of different parts of the solar module installed on the vehicle. When a part of the solar panel is shaded, the current generated by the solar cells in that part decreases in proportion to the illumination level. Due to the series connection, the solar cell with the lowest current determines the current of the entire solar panel. Even the shade of just one solar cell of the solar panel will result in a complete loss of power of the entire solar panel and reduce the efficiency of the solar panel.

[0005] In existing large scale solar cell manufacturing units, necessary measures have been taken to reduce losses due to partial shading at the solar panel level by various means like different overhead configurations of solar cells, bypass diodes, power electronics etc. However, when solar panels are installed on the roof of a vehicle, that one solar panel may be subject to partial shading or partial dust accumulation depending on the shape of the roof or canopy of the vehicle. Hence, configuration changes need to be made at the solar cell level to reduce losses due to partial shading and dust accumulation.

[0006] Furthermore, when a vehicle is parked and the solar panels are actively generating energy, there is an optimal direction in which the vehicle can be parked to maximize energy output. This optimal direction is determined by the electrical connections between the solar cells in the solar panel, the direction of the Earth's magnetic poles, and also the position of the sun in the sky or the position of any artificial light source, such as street lights. Most large-scale solar panels use trackers to move the solar panel so that it always faces the light source, e.g., the sun. This tracker is a mostly mechanical system that moves the solar panel in a single axis or multiple axes. However, this configuration may not be feasible in a vehicle because of its cost, weight, and space occupancy. Therefore, there is a need for a method to inform a vehicle user of the optimal direction in which to park the vehicle to maximize energy output, so that he / she can adjust the parking direction based on the input.

[0007] Therefore, there is a need for cell level customization to mitigate losses due to partial shading and partial dust accumulation of energy harvesting vehicle mounted solar panels based on the structure and orientation of the surface to which the solar panels are mounted. Additionally, there is a need for a method to assist users of energy harvesting vehicles in parking their energy harvesting vehicles such that the solar concentrators function efficiently, overcoming all of the above-disclosed and other problems of the known art. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] The present invention discloses an energy harvesting vehicle comprising an energy harvesting structure such as an energy canopy. The energy harvesting vehicle comprises a plurality of vehicle panels, and the energy canopy is connected to at least two of the plurality of vehicle panels for generating electrical energy. The energy canopy comprises a number of surfaces receiving incident light over a plurality of time periods. At least one of the number of surfaces comprises a solar unit for concentrating the incident light. Additionally, the number of solar units positioned in an area of ​​the number of surfaces are connected to each other in a series or parallel connection to improve the energy conversion efficiency of the energy canopy through enhanced concentration of the incident light. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an exemplary energy harvesting vehicle with an energy canopy. [Diagram 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary energy harvesting vehicle including an energy canopy. [Diagram 3] FIG. 1 is a plan view of an exemplary energy canopy having identified surfaces. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing an example of electrical connections between solar units of an energy canopy. [Figure 5A] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary energy canopy showing electrical connections between the solar units of the energy canopy. [Figure 5B] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary energy canopy showing electrical connections between the solar units of the energy canopy. [Figure 6A] FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of parking an energy harvesting vehicle with its energy canopy under the sun at different times of the day to reduce loss of generated energy. [Figure 6B]FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing an example of parking an energy harvesting vehicle with its energy canopy under the sun at different times of the day to reduce loss of generated energy. [Figure 7] 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an example method for determining an optimal orientation for parking an energy harvesting vehicle at a parking location. [Figure 8] FIG. 13 is an exemplary diagram illustrating a visual display interface of a user device or an energy harvesting vehicle. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like numbers are used to refer to like features and components throughout the drawings, in which:

[0011] Each solar unit of the predetermined number of surfaces comprises one or more solar arrays. Each solar array comprises a plurality of solar cells electrically connected in series. The one or more solar arrays of the solar units are electrically connected in series with each other. Each of the predetermined number of surfaces has a different radius of curvature. The solar units cover the entire area or a partial area of ​​each of the predetermined number of surfaces of the energy canopy. The predetermined number of surfaces for positioning the predetermined number of solar units are selected based on an angle of incidence of the incident light, a radius of curvature of each of the predetermined number of surfaces, a parking position, a shading condition, and a dust condition. The energy canopy further comprises a bypass unit for bypassing each solar unit of the predetermined number of surfaces based on one or more of the incident light intensity of each surface, almanac information, weather data, dust accumulation on the surface, and a curvature of the surface.

[0012] The energy harvesting vehicle further comprises at least one first sensor for determining an instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle relative to the magnetic poles. The energy harvesting vehicle further comprises at least one second sensor for identifying a surface of the energy canopy on which the solar unit is installed. In an embodiment, the at least one second sensor identifies a surface of the energy canopy on which dust has accumulated.

[0013] The energy harvesting vehicle further comprises a parking controller for determining and recommending an optimal orientation for the energy harvesting vehicle in a parking position based on the shading status of each of the predetermined number of solar units, and at least one of a display interface and an audio interface for informing a user of the optimal orientation for parking the vehicle as indicated by the parking controller.

[0014] In another embodiment, an energy harvesting structure for generating electrical energy is disclosed. The energy harvesting structure includes a number of surfaces receiving incident light over multiple time periods, a solar unit positioned in at least one region of the number of surfaces for concentrating the incident light, and a number of wiring elements electrically connecting the number of solar units on the number of surfaces in a series or parallel connection with each other to improve the energy conversion efficiency of the energy harvesting structure by enhanced concentration of the incident light. At least one of the number of surfaces has a different radius of curvature forming the energy harvesting structure.

[0015] The energy harvesting structure further comprises a bypass unit for bypassing each solar unit of the predetermined number of surfaces based on one or more of the incident light intensity of each surface, almanac information, weather data, dust accumulation on the surface, and curvature of the surface. The solar unit of at least one of the predetermined number of surfaces comprises one or more solar arrays. Each solar array comprises a plurality of solar cells electrically connected in series. The one or more solar arrays of the solar units are electrically connected in series with each other.

[0016] In another embodiment, a method for determining an optimal orientation for parking an energy harvesting vehicle with an energy harvesting structure in a parking position is disclosed. The method includes determining an instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle with respect to a magnetic pole by at least one first sensor of the energy harvesting vehicle, and identifying a surface of the energy harvesting structure having a solar unit by at least one second sensor of the energy harvesting vehicle. The first sensor is one of a magnetic compass, a hall sensor, an accelerometer, a sun sensor, a position sensor, a location sensor, and any combination thereof. The second sensor is one of a curvature sensor, a load sensor, a pressure sensor, and any combination thereof. The method further includes analyzing, by a parking controller of the energy harvesting vehicle, the instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle with respect to the magnetic pole and the identified surfaces having the solar unit, and determining an optimal orientation in which a minimum number of surfaces are shaded in the parking position. The method further includes receiving, by the parking controller, almanac information for the current day for analyzing the current orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle with respect to the magnetic pole.

[0017] The method further includes comparing, by the parking controller, the instantaneous orientation with the determined optimal orientation using a predefined threshold, and informing a user of the energy harvesting vehicle to park the energy harvesting vehicle in the determined optimal orientation informed by the parking controller, the parking controller notifying the user of the energy harvesting vehicle via one of a display interface and an audio interface of one of the energy harvesting vehicle and a user device owned by the user.

[0018] The at least one second sensor identifies surfaces of the energy harvesting structure on which dust has accumulated. The method includes notifying a user, by the parking controller, to clean the identified surfaces on which dust has accumulated to improve efficiency of the energy harvesting structure. In an embodiment, the method further includes generating, by the parking controller, periodic alerts for frequent adjustments of the orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle to obtain a desired state of charge of an energy storage module that is charged using the energy harvesting structure.

[0019] The method further includes calculating, by the parking controller, a state of charge of the energy storage module and a driving range of the energy harvesting vehicle based on the sensor data of the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and a user input for an estimated time interval for parking the energy harvesting vehicle at said instantaneous orientation during a given movement. The method further includes performing the calculation and informing the user about the time required to fully charge the energy storage module with the energy harvesting structure for a desired driving range of the energy harvesting vehicle by the parking controller. The method further includes warning the user of an insufficient charge of the energy storage module by the parking controller to prevent the user from being stranded.

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exemplary schematic diagram of an energy harvesting vehicle 102 with an energy canopy 103. As used herein, "energy harvesting vehicle" refers to a vehicle that can generate electricity using a photovoltaic device. The photovoltaic device converts incident light into electricity using the photovoltaic effect. The incident light can be from the sun, i.e., solar radiation, or can be light from a light source such as a street light. The photovoltaic device is a solar cell. Thus, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is not limited to vehicles that collect solar radiation, but can include any energy harvesting vehicle that collects incident light and converts it into electricity. However, for purposes of explanation, in FIGS. 1-8, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is described as collecting solar radiation relative to the position of the sun during the day. In an embodiment, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 also operates at night to maximize energy generation from any incident light at night, such as the light from a street light. The energy canopy 103 is the energy harvesting structure of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The energy canopy 103 concentrates incoming radiation from the sun and / or street lights, both during the day and at night. The path of the sun 101 during the day in the sky above the energy canopy 103 is shown. The energy canopy 103 comprises a number of surfaces for mounting solar units (not shown) as disclosed in the detailed description of Figures 2-3. Each solar unit comprises a number of solar cells. The solar cells (not shown) mounted on the energy canopy 103 concentrate the incoming solar radiation and generate electricity. The generated electricity is used to drive the vehicle and power auxiliary devices such as headlamps, indicators, rechargeable batteries, etc. in the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The energy harvesting vehicle 102 depicted here is a two-wheeled vehicle, but is not limited to being a two-wheeled vehicle. The energy harvesting vehicle 102 could also be a three-wheeled vehicle, a four-wheeled vehicle, a saddle-type vehicle, a step-through vehicle, etc. A three-wheel energy harvesting vehicle or a four-wheel energy harvesting vehicle may include an energy canopy 103 in addition to the roof of the energy harvesting vehicle 102.In an embodiment, the solar cells mounted on the energy canopy 103 may be mounted directly on the roof, doors, hood, side panels, rear panels of the three or four wheel energy harvesting vehicle 102. In an embodiment, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 may be a vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine, in which case the energy canopy 103 is used to power the vehicle's ancillary items. In an embodiment, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is an electric vehicle, hybrid vehicle, or plug-in hybrid vehicle, in which case the energy canopy 103 is used to drive and / or power the vehicle's ancillary items.

[0021] As exemplarily illustrated, due to the sun moving from east to west during the day, different portions of the energy canopy 103 receive different amounts of solar radiation for different periods of time during the day. The energy canopy 103 receives a non-uniform amount of solar radiation along its length at any given time of day. Due to the shadows formed on those portions of the energy canopy 103 during the day, the solar cells in those portions may not generate the desired voltage output. Certain portions of the energy canopy 103 may also accumulate dust and not generate the desired voltage output after extended use during the day or when the energy harvesting vehicle comprising the energy canopy is idle for extended periods of time. In this manner, the maximum output voltage of the energy canopy 103 may be reduced and the energy harvesting vehicle 102 may not function efficiently. To overcome this problem, different portions of the energy canopy 103 are identified and the electrical connections between the solar cells in those different portions are modified to reduce energy losses in the energy harvesting vehicle 102, as described in the detailed description of Figures 2-6.

[0022] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an exemplary energy harvesting vehicle 102 including an energy canopy 103. The energy harvesting vehicle 102 includes multiple vehicle panels, such as a side panel 102b, a rear panel 102c, and a front panel 102a. The energy canopy 103 is connected to at least two vehicle panels. As shown in the exemplary embodiment, the energy canopy 103 is connected to the front panel 102a and the rear panel 102c of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The energy canopy 103 is crown-shaped, extending from the front panel 102a to the rear panel 102c and covering the entire length of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The shape of the energy canopy 103 may be rectangular, arched, semicircular, square, etc. The energy canopy may be divided into multiple flat surfaces or arched surfaces with different radii of curvature. In an embodiment, the curvature of the surface may match the geometric shape of the vehicle panels. The energy canopy 103 comprises a number of flat or arched surfaces that receive incident solar radiation over different time periods. Of all the surfaces of the energy canopy 103, only the number of surfaces receive incident solar radiation. Of the number of surfaces, some of the surfaces will receive solar radiation throughout most of the day with minimal or no sun shading, dust accumulation, etc. These surfaces are identified and solar units are attached. Each solar unit comprises a number of cells connected in series. Here, for the crown-shaped energy canopy 103, the number of arched surfaces is identified as seven.

[0023] One or more surfaces form a portion of the energy canopy 103, and the energy canopy 103 may have multiple such portions. As exemplarily illustrated, the three distinct portions of the energy canopy are a front portion 104, a top portion 105, and a rear portion 106. During the early hours of the day when the sun is still low in the eastern sky, with the front of the vehicle facing eastward as shown in FIG. 1, only the front portion 104 of the energy canopy 103 is fully illuminated by substantially orthogonal incident sunlight. Meanwhile, the top portion 105 of the energy canopy 103 is partially or weakly illuminated, and the rear portion 106 of the energy canopy 103 is fully shaded. Similarly, around midday, when the sun is in the sky, the top portion 105 of the energy canopy 103 is fully illuminated, while the front portion 104 and rear portion 106 are partially or fully shaded. In the late afternoon when the sun is in the west, the rear section 106 is fully illuminated while the top section 105 and front section 104 are partially or fully shaded. The energy canopy 103 is divided into three sections 104, 105, and 106, each of which has a different plane on which solar radiation enters.

[0024] Also, the different radii of curvature of the energy canopy 103 in the front portion 104 divides the front portion 104 into three surfaces 104a, 104b, and 104c. Similarly, the different radii of curvature of the energy canopy 103 in the rear portion 106 divides the rear portion 106 into three surfaces 106a, 106b, and 106c. The top portion 105 has only surface 105a. In this crown-shaped energy canopy 103, the number of surfaces is seven.

[0025] Additionally, the predetermined number of surfaces receiving the incoming solar radiation for each portion of the energy canopy 103 are selected based on the angle of incidence of the incoming light, the parking position, the shading condition, and the dust condition. If the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is parked in a parking position with the rear portion 106 and the top portion 105 covered and only the front portion 104 is exposed to the solar radiation, then of the seven surfaces, only surfaces 104a, 104b, and 104c of the front portion 104 are identified for mounting the solar units. Similarly, if only the rear portion 106 and the front portion 104 are clean and the top portion 105 is dusty, then of the seven surfaces, only surfaces 104a, 104b, 104c, 106a, 106b, and 106c of the front portion 104 and the rear portion 106 are identified for mounting the solar units. However, solar units may be mounted on at least one of these surfaces, such as on surfaces 104a, 104b, 104c, 106a, 106b, and / or 106c.

[0026] For the sake of simplicity in the description of Figures 3-6, the three surfaces 104a, 104b, and 104c of the front portion 104 of the energy canopy 103 are collectively referred to as a single surface 301, taking into account that they have substantially the same solar radiation incidence orientation. For the same reason, the three surfaces 106a, 106b, and 106c of the rear portion 106 of the energy canopy 103 are collectively referred to as a single surface 303, taking into account that they have substantially the same solar radiation incidence orientation. The surface 105a of the top portion 105 is referred to as 302. The three surfaces 301, 302, and 303 are selected for installing solar units. A solar unit is installed on at least one of the three surfaces 301, 302, and / or 303. As exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 3, surfaces 301, 302, and 303 each include a solar unit 304, 305, and 306, respectively, that concentrates incident solar radiation, as described in the detailed description of FIG.

[0027] The energy harvesting vehicle 102 further comprises one or more first sensors 109 for determining the instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 relative to the magnetic poles. The first sensor 109 is one or more of a magnetic compass, a Hall sensor, an accelerometer, a sun sensor, a position sensor, and / or a location sensor. The first sensor 109 determines the magnetic poles, i.e. the north and south poles of the Earth. With reference to the north and south poles, the first sensor 109 determines the current orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102, the current position of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 when linked to a global positioning system (GPS), etc.

[0028] The energy harvesting vehicle 102 further comprises one or more second sensors 110 for determining the surfaces of the energy canopy 103 on which the solar units are installed. One or more of the identified surfaces 104a, 104b, 104c, 105a, 106a, 106b, and 106c of the energy canopy 103 may have solar units with solar cells installed. The second sensor 110 is one or more of a curvature sensor, a load sensor, and / or a pressure sensor. The second sensor 110 may be installed on an inner surface of the energy canopy 103 to determine the weight of the surface of the energy canopy 103. The second sensor 110 may be installed on the inner surfaces of the front portion 104, the top portion 105, and the rear portion 106 to identify the surfaces of the energy canopy 103 on which the solar units are installed. A load or pressure sensor may measure the weight of surfaces 104a, 104b, 104c, 105a, 106a, 106b, and 106c of energy canopy 103 to determine the surfaces on which solar units are installed. A load sensor may determine the surfaces having solar units with dust accumulation based on the increase in weight of the surface from a previously known weight measurement. A curvature sensor may identify one or more surfaces 104a, 104b, 104c, 105a, 106a, 106b, 106c of portions 104, 105, and 106 that are likely to find installed solar units based on the radius of curvature.

[0029] The energy harvesting vehicle 102 further comprises a parking controller 107 for determining and recommending an optimal orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 in the parking position based on the shading of the solar cells of the solar units installed on the surfaces 104a, 104b, 104c, 105a, 106a, 106b, and 106c of the energy canopy 103. The parking controller 107 utilizes sensor data from the first sensor 109 and the second sensor 110 to determine the shading of the solar cells. The parking controller 107 may be part of the solar charger controller of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The optimal orientation for maximum solar output of the energy canopy 103 is determined by the parking controller 107 based on the condition that the energy harvesting vehicle 102 shall be parked such that a maximum number of solar cells are fully illuminated by solar radiation. This means that at a given time of day when the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is parked in the parking position, a minimum number of solar cells are partially or fully shaded.

[0030] The energy harvesting vehicle 102 further comprises a user interface 108 that provides status information of the energy harvesting vehicle 102, a current orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102, an optimal orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102, user device notifications, navigation guidance, etc. The user interface 108 may be an audio and / or visual interface. The user interface 108 may also be an instrument cluster of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The parking controller 107 notifies the user of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 via the user interface 108 of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 to park in an optimal orientation. In an embodiment, the parking controller 107 notifies the user of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 via a user interface of a user device owned by the user.

[0031] FIG. 3 is an exemplary plan view of the energy canopy 103 with identified surfaces 301, 302, and 303. The energy canopy 103 is divided into three surfaces 301, 302, and 303 that receive solar radiation in different planes. As exemplary shown, each of the surfaces 301, 302, and 303 includes a solar unit 304, 3056, and 306, respectively, for concentrating the incoming solar radiation. In an embodiment, each of one or two of the surfaces 301, 302, or 303 includes a solar unit such as 304, 305, or 306. Each solar unit 304, 305, 306 includes one or more solar arrays (not shown). Each solar array includes a number of solar cells electrically connected in series as shown in FIG. 4. The solar arrays may be of the same length or of variable length based on the shape and orientation of the surface to which they are attached. The solar array of solar units 304, 305, and 306 are electrically connected together in series as shown in FIG. 4. Incident energy collected by the solar cells is used to charge an energy storage module, such as a battery of the energy harvesting vehicle 102, using a solar charger controller. At any time during the day when one or more surfaces 301, 302, 303 of the energy canopy 103 are partially shaded, any one or more of the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are partially or completely shaded. To mitigate the loss of solar power due to partial shading, the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are connected together in series or parallel as disclosed in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5A-5B.

[0032] 4 is a schematic diagram showing an example of electrical connections between solar units 304, 305, and 306 of energy canopy 103. Solar units 304, 305, and 306 include solar arrays 401, 402, and 403, respectively. The solar cells of each of solar units 304, 305, and 306 are connected in series with wiring elements such as 404 extending between the solar cells in solar units 304, 305, and 306. Here, every solar unit 304, 305, and 306 includes only one solar array, such as 401, 402, and 403, respectively. Solar array 401 of solar unit 304 includes solar cells such as 401a, 401b, 401c, ... (not shown) connected in series with each other with wiring elements 404.

[0033] Similarly, the solar array 402 of the solar unit 305 includes solar cells such as 402a, 402b, 402c, ... (not shown) connected in series with each other using wiring elements 404. Similarly, the solar array 403 of the solar unit 306 includes solar cells such as 403a, 403b, 403c, ... (not shown) connected in series with each other using wiring elements 404. The wiring elements 404 from each solar array 401, 402, 403 extend from two sides of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403 after connecting in series the solar cells such as 401a, 401b, 401c, 402a, 402b, 402c, 403a, 403b, and 403c of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403, respectively. These wiring elements 404 are connected together to connect the solar units 304, 305, 306 in parallel.

[0034] The solar units 304, 305, and 306 are connected in parallel with each other as shown in Figure 4. The parallel connected solar units 304, 305, and 306 form the positive terminal 405 and the negative terminal 406 of the energy canopy 103. A wiring element 404 running along the length of the solar units 304, 305, and 306 connects the positive terminal 405 and the negative terminal 406 at the two ends. The currents I1, I2, I3 generated by each of the solar units 304, 305, 306 based on the incident radiation sum to a total current I in the energy canopy 103 between the positive terminal 405 and the negative terminal 406.

[0035] Thus, when one of the solar units, for example 306, is partially or completely shaded, the output current I3 of that solar unit 306 is affected and the total output current I of the energy canopy 103 is reduced, but the losses are lower compared to when all the solar cells of all the solar units 304, 305, and 306 of the energy canopy 103 are connected in series. The illuminated solar units 304, 305 or solar arrays 401, 402 continue to operate between their maximum power limits and their open circuit voltages, while the shaded solar unit 306 or solar array 403 produces no voltage or only a partial voltage. The lengths of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403 of the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are configured so that they all have substantially the same length, i.e., the solar arrays have the same number of solar cells equally spaced apart using the same types of wiring elements. The size of some of the solar cells in the solar array, or the size of the solar units 304, 305, 306 themselves, may be adjusted to achieve substantially the same length of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403. In this case, the current output of each solar unit is the same. When the lengths of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403 in the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are not equal, the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are connected together as shown in Figures 5A-5B.

[0036] 5A-5B are exemplary schematic diagrams of the energy canopy 103 showing the electrical connections between the solar units 304, 305, 306 of the energy canopy 103. As exemplary shown, bypass units 504, 505, and 506 are electrically connected in parallel with the solar units 304, 305, and 306, respectively. The bypass units 504, 505, and 506 may be diodes that pass current when forward biased and block current when reverse biased. The solar units 304, 305, and 306 are connected in series with each other. The solar cells of each of the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are also connected in series. The wiring elements 404 running through the solar array 401 connect the solar cells 402a of the solar array 402 and the solar cells 403a of the solar array 403 before terminating at the positive terminal 503 and the negative terminal 501.

[0037] The lengths of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403 of each of the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are not equal. The solar unit 305 has a greater number of interconnected solar cells, such as 402a, 402b, and 402c (not shown), than the number of solar cells, such as 401a and 401b (not shown) and 403a and 403b (not shown) of each of the solar units 304 and 306. Wiring elements, such as 404, connecting the solar cells 401a, 401b, 401c (not shown), 402a, 402b, 402c (not shown), and 403a, 403b, 403c (not shown) of the solar arrays 401, 402, and 403, respectively, connect the solar units 304, 305, and 306 in series and form the positive terminal 503 and negative terminal 501 of the energy canopy 103.

[0038] As exemplarily shown in FIG. 5B, solar unit 306 may experience partial shading and not generate enough current. In such a case, diode 506 across solar unit 306 becomes forward biased and conducts, providing a path for the energy canopy current I to flow between positive terminal 503 and negative terminal 501. Solar units 304 and 305 continue to generate current I up to their maximum limits, since they are not partially or completely shaded. Diodes 504 and 505 across solar units 304 and 305 become reverse biased, and the voltage generated by solar units 304 and 305 becomes the voltage output of energy canopy 103. The voltage generated by solar units 304 and 305 reverse biases diodes 504 and 505, respectively. The positioning of diodes 504, 505, and 506 across solar units 304, 305, and 306 respectively ensures that voltage losses caused by the failure of one or more of the solar units of the energy canopy 103, such as 306, are minimized.

[0039] 6A-6B are exemplary schematic diagrams illustrating parking of an energy harvesting vehicle 102 with the energy canopy 103 under the sun at various times of the day to reduce loss of generated energy. As exemplary shown, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 may be parked in two orientations, as shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B, respectively. Also shown is the sun's trajectory 101 as it moves across the sky from the east in the early morning to the west in the evening. Assuming the energy canopy 103 has the electrical connections disclosed in FIG. 4 or FIGS. 5A-5B, at any given time of day there is necessarily an optimal orientation in which the energy harvesting vehicle 102 may be parked to maximize the output of the energy canopy 103. As exemplarily shown in FIG. 6A, the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is parked in orientation 601 and the energy canopy 103 is grouped into solar units 304, 305, and 306 connected in series to bypass units 504, 505, and 506 based on the plane in which solar radiation is incident on the solar units.

[0040] At a given time, for example in the morning when the sun is low in the east, all solar units 304, 305, and 306 will be partially shaded and therefore all will experience partial shading losses. Similarly, in the evening when the sun is low in the west, all solar units 304, 305, and 306 will be partially shaded. In an alternative possibility, exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 6B, the vehicle is parked in orientation 602. When the sun is in the east in the morning, only solar unit 306 is partially or completely shaded, but solar units 304 and 305 receive substantially uniform sunlight. Similarly, in the evening when the sun is low in the west, solar unit 304 is partially or completely shaded, but solar units 305 and 306 receive substantially uniform sunlight. Around midday, when the sun is in the sky, in both orientations 601 and 602, both solar units 304 and 306 will be partially or completely shaded, and solar unit 305 will receive uniform sunlight.

[0041] Thus, in orientation 602, at any given time of day, at least two solar units, 304 and 305, or 305 and 306, receive uniform sunlight. In other words, at any given time, only one solar unit, either 304 or 306, is partially or completely shaded. Thus, the loss due to partial shading of the energy canopy 103 in orientation 602 is less compared to when the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is parked in orientation 601, where at least two solar units, namely 304 and 306, are partially or completely shaded at any given time of day. Thus, orientation 602 is the optimal orientation for the energy canopy 103 to operate at the highest efficiency when the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is parked.

[0042] 7 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary method for determining an optimal orientation for parking an energy harvesting vehicle 102 at a parking location. The energy harvesting vehicle 102 comprises an energy harvesting structure, such as the energy canopy 103 illustrated in FIG. 2. The energy harvesting structure 103 comprises a number of surfaces, such as three surfaces, namely 301, 302, and 303, that receive incident solar radiation over different periods of a day. One or more solar units 304, 305, and 306 that concentrate the incident solar radiation are positioned on at least one of the surfaces 301, 302, and 303. A number of wiring elements electrically connect the solar units 304, 305, and 306 on the number of surfaces 301, 302, and 303 in series or parallel with each other based on the incident solar radiation to be concentrated, so as to reduce losses in the electric energy generation of the energy harvesting structure 103.

[0043] One or more first sensors 109 on the energy harvesting vehicle determine the current orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 relative to the magnetic poles. One or more second sensors 110 on the energy harvesting vehicle 101 identify the surfaces of the energy harvesting structure 103 on which the solar units 304, 305, and / or 306 are installed. The second sensor 110, such as a load / pressure sensor, measures the weight of the surfaces 301, 302, and 303 of the energy canopy 103 to identify the surfaces on which the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are installed. The load sensor may also identify surfaces with solar units with dust accumulation based on an increase in the weight of the surface from a previously known weight measurement. A curvature sensor may identify one or more surfaces that are likely to have solar units installed based on the radius of curvature. In an embodiment, the surface on which the solar units 304, 305, and 306 are installed is manually entered in a user interface by a user of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 and the second sensor 110 is omitted.

[0044] The parking controller 107 of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 analyzes the data of the first sensor 109 and the second sensor 110 and determines the optimal orientation that minimizes the number of shaded surfaces at the parking position. In an embodiment, the optimal surface orientation that maximizes the solar output of the solar units 304, 305, and 306 is determined by the parking controller 107 based on the condition that the energy harvesting vehicle 102 shall be parked such that at a given time of day, a maximum number of the solar units 304, 305, and / or 306 are fully illuminated by solar radiation, in other words, a minimum number of the solar units 304, 305, and / or 306 are partially or fully shaded.

[0045] To determine the optimal orientation for the energy harvesting vehicle 102, the parking controller 107 receives calendar information for the current day at the parked location of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The calendar information includes, for example, sunrise and sunset times for the current day, eclipse predictions, weather forecast for the current day, date and time, etc. The parking controller 107 compares the current orientation to the determined optimal orientation using a predefined threshold. The parking controller 107 determines whether the angle between the current orientation and the optimal orientation is greater than the threshold.

[0046] Furthermore, based on a comparison between the current orientation and the determined optimal orientation, the parking controller 107 notifies the user of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 to park the energy harvesting vehicle 102 in the determined optimal orientation. The parking controller 107 notifies the user on a display interface and / or an audio interface of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 and / or a user device owned by the user. If the angle between the current orientation and the optimal orientation is greater than a threshold, the parking controller 107 notifies the user, otherwise the parking controller 107 does not notify the user.

[0047] In an embodiment, the parking controller 107 may indicate the identified dust-accumulated surfaces to the user based on the sensor data of the second sensor. The parking controller 107 may also suggest the user to clean the identified surfaces to increase the efficiency of the energy harvesting structure 103. If the indicated surfaces are cleaned immediately by the user, the user may request the parking controller 107 to confirm again and then park the energy harvesting vehicle 102 according to the instructions from the parking controller 107. Alternatively, if the user is unable to clean the identified surfaces immediately or if cleaning does not lead to the desired effect, the parking controller 107 may recommend the optimal orientation to park the energy harvesting vehicle 102.

[0048] 8 is an exemplary diagram of a visual display interface 801 of a user device or energy harvesting vehicle 102. The visual display interface 801 is in the form of a circular dial as shown in this embodiment. The current orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is shown as an icon 802 on the display interface 801. The optimal orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is shown as an icon 803 on the display interface 801. An arrow 804 indicates the direction in which the energy harvesting vehicle 102 should be moved to achieve the desired optimal orientation to maximize solar output. This visual display interface 801 can be displayed on the dashboard of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 and can also alert the user on the user device of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 when the current orientation and the optimal orientation do not match and adjustments are required.

[0049] If the angle between the current orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 and the optimal orientation is greater than a predefined threshold, for example 15 degrees, a warning is displayed on the visual display interface 801 or provided as an audio warning. In an embodiment, the dashboard may consist of a timer, based on which the parking controller 107 can detect the time of night and go into sleep mode at night. The parking controller 107 may also be taken offline manually by the user of the energy harvesting vehicle 102. The parking controller 107, the first sensor 109, and the second sensor 110 are powered by the solar units 304, 305, and 306, so they also work when the energy harvesting vehicle 102 is turned off. In an embodiment, the visual display interface 801 may also display an estimated gain in solar output (power / current) when repositioned to the optimal orientation suggested by the parking controller 107.

[0050] As an additional aspect, the user from the user device may receive periodic alerts from the parking controller 107 to determine frequent adjustments of the orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle 102 to obtain the desired state of charge. Alternatively, the parking controller 107 may perform calculations based on the sensor data of the first sensor 109 and the second sensor 110 to provide the best possible state of charge (SOC) or achievable driving range based on the user input for the estimated time interval for parking the energy harvesting vehicle 102 during a given trip. If the user's predictions indicate that the SOC is not sufficient, the parking controller 107 may be configured to provide on-board diagnostic assistance to suggest measures to maximize the SOC, or to suggest the external charging time required to achieve the next trip range desired by the user, or a suggested route to obtain the maximum available charge. The parking controller 107 according to an embodiment may also be configured to alert when there is insufficient charge to avoid being stranded, for example insufficient charge to get home due to weather conditions, or insufficient solar charging opportunities.

[0051] The embodiments of the energy harvesting vehicle with the energy harvesting structure provide a technological advancement in the field of photovoltaic technology, namely, splitting the solar cells into multiple solar units and connecting the solar units in series or parallel based on the configuration of the solar cells helps to reduce the loss of energy generated by the solar cells due to dust conditions, shade conditions, parking position, etc. The number of solar arrays in the solar units is based on the orientation and shape of the surface on which they are attached to the body of the energy harvesting vehicle, such as the roof, door / side panels, front bonnet, and rear bonnet. The surfaces on which the solar units are attached are differentiated based on the plane on which the light is incident. Surfaces with substantially the same plane of incident radiation experience similar levels of incident radiation, while surfaces receiving radiation incident at different planes experience different levels of incident radiation at any given time of day. In embodiments, solar units directly placed on surfaces with substantially the same plane of incident radiation may be connected in series. In an embodiment, when the solar units are connected in parallel with each other, losses due to partial shading or partial dust accumulation are significantly less than when the solar cells are not grouped into solar arrays and solar units based on the incident radiation plane, or when all the solar cells are connected in series. Although there are losses, energy from the unshaded cells in the partially shaded solar units is collected. In another embodiment, the solar units are connected in series and protected by a bypass unit. In this configuration, the bypass unit allows the current from the unshaded solar units to flow around the partially or fully shaded solar units.

[0052] These various embodiments of the identification of the surface of the energy harvesting vehicle on which the solar units are mounted and the electrical connection of the solar units facilitate mitigating losses due to partial shading of the surface of the energy canopy based on the shape and orientation of the surface. These embodiments are simple to install, do not require extra costs, and are effective in reducing energy generation losses to the extent possible with the energy canopy. The parking control device according to the present invention also allows optimizing the solar charging capacity by reducing losses due to partial shading, as well as communicating to the user of the energy harvesting vehicle how and means to improve or maximize the efficiency of the energy harvesting vehicle by suggesting the best direction to park the energy harvesting vehicle. The parking control device is autonomous and does not require manual intervention by the user, such as with the surface with the solar units or the surroundings of the energy harvesting vehicle. According to aspects of the present invention, the energy harvesting structure herein can also operate at night to maximize the energy generation from any incident light at night, such as the light of a street lamp.

[0053] The energy harvesting structure generates electricity when the energy harvesting vehicle is moving and also when the energy harvesting vehicle is in a parked position. When the energy harvesting vehicle is moving, the maximum concentration of the incoming solar radiation and the light of artificial sources such as street lights by reducing losses due to shading and dust accumulation is limited by the direction of travel of the energy harvesting vehicle, as well as the transients of the energy harvesting vehicle's movement due to the speed of the energy harvesting vehicle and the road surface conditions. However, when the energy harvesting vehicle is in a parked position, the optimal direction to park the energy harvesting vehicle is the direction that will get the maximum benefit from the available incoming radiation. The energy harvesting vehicle intelligently determines the surface on which the solar units are installed and suggests an optimal orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle in the parked position via a user interface of the vehicle or a user device. In an embodiment, if the parking controller is informed of the surrounding and environmental factors of the energy harvesting vehicle, the parking controller may also suggest a suitable parking position to maximize efficiency. Also, when in motion, the energy harvesting vehicle may be suggested the best and most optimal route to keep generating electricity while keeping travel time short and hassle-free.

[0054] Various improvements and modifications can be incorporated herein without departing from the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0055] 101 Sun's Path 102 Energy Harvesting Vehicle 103 Energy Harvesting Structure / Energy Canopy 104 Front part 104a, 104b, 104c Front surface 105 Top part 105a Top surface 106 Rear part 106a, 106b, 106c Rear surface 107 Parking control device 108 User Interface 109 First Sensor 110 Second Sensor 301, 302, 303 Energy Canopy Surface 304, 305, 306 Solar units on the surface of the energy canopy Solar arrays in 401, 402, and 403 solar units 401a, 402a, 403a Solar cells in the solar array 404 Wiring elements 405 Positive terminal 406 negative terminal 501 negative terminal 502 Wiring elements 503 Positive terminal 504, 505, 506 Bypass Unit 601, 602 orientation 801 Visual Display Interface 802 Current Orientation Icon 803 Best Orientation Icon 804 Rotation direction

Claims

1. An energy harvesting vehicle (102), comprising: A plurality of vehicle panels (102a, 102b, 102c); an energy canopy (103) connected to at least two (102a, 102c) of the plurality of vehicle panels for generating electric energy; the energy canopy (103) comprises a number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) receiving incident light over a number of time periods; At least one of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) comprises a solar unit (304, 305, 306) for concentrating the incident light; a number of solar units (304, 305, 306) provided on the area of ​​said number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) are connected to each other in one of a series connection and a parallel connection for energy conversion of said energy canopy (103) by concentration of said incident light, and a parking control device (107) for determining and recommending an optimal orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) in a parking position based on a shading state of each of the predetermined number of solar units (304, 305, 306). An energy harvesting vehicle (102).

2. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 1, wherein the solar units (304, 305, 306) of each of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) comprise one or more solar arrays (401, 402, 403).

3. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 2, wherein each solar array (401, 402, 403) of the one or more solar arrays (401, 402, 403) comprises a plurality of solar cells (401a, 402a, 403a) electrically connected in series.

4. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 2, wherein the one or more solar arrays (401, 402, 403) of the solar units (304, 305, 306) are electrically connected in series with each other.

5. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) have different radii of curvature forming the energy canopy (103).

6. 2. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 1, wherein the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) on which the number of solar units (304, 305, 306) are provided are selected based on one or more of the angle of incidence of the incident light, the radius of curvature of each of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303), a shading condition, and a dust condition.

7. 2. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 1, wherein the energy canopy (103) further comprises a bypass unit that bypasses each solar unit (304, 305, 306) of the predetermined number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) based on one or more of the incident light intensity of each surface, almanac information, weather data, dust accumulation on the surfaces, and curvature of the surfaces.

8. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 1, further comprising at least one first sensor (109) configured to determine an instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) relative to a magnetic pole.

9. 9. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 8, wherein the at least one first sensor (109) is one of a magnetic compass, a Hall sensor, an accelerometer, a sun sensor, a position sensor, a location sensor, and any combination thereof.

10. 2. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 1, further comprising at least one second sensor (110) configured to identify the surface (301, 302, 303) of the energy canopy (103) on which the solar units (304, 305, 306) are installed.

11. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 10, wherein the at least one second sensor (110) is one of a curvature sensor, a load sensor, a pressure sensor, and any combination thereof.

12. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 10, wherein the at least one second sensor (110) identifies the surface (301, 302, 303) of the energy canopy (103) on which dust has accumulated.

13. 7. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 6, wherein decisions and recommendations by the parking control device (107) are based on an instantaneous orientation determination by the at least one first sensor (107), an identification by the at least one second sensor (110) of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) on which the solar units (304, 305, 306) are provided and on which dust has accumulated, and a shading state of each of the number of solar units (304, 305, 306).

14. 14. The energy harvesting vehicle (102) of claim 13, further comprising at least one of a display interface and an audio interface for informing a user of the energy harvesting device (102) to park the energy harvesting device (102) in the optimal orientation.

15. An energy harvesting structure (103) for generating electrical energy, comprising: a number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) receiving incident light over a number of time periods; a solar unit (304, 305, 306) for concentrating the incident light, the solar unit (304, 305, 306) being provided on at least one region of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303); a plurality of wiring elements (404, 502) electrically connecting the number of solar units (304, 305, 306) on the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) to each other in one of a series connection and a parallel connection for energy conversion of the energy harvesting structure (103) by collecting the incident light; An energy harvesting structure (103).

16. The energy harvesting structure (103) of claim 15, wherein the at least one solar unit (304, 305, 306) of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) comprises one or more solar arrays (401, 402, 403).

17. 17. The energy harvesting structure (103) of claim 16, wherein each solar array (401, 402, 403) of the one or more solar arrays (401, 402, 403) comprises a plurality of solar cells (401a, 402a, 403a) electrically connected in series.

18. 20. The energy harvesting structure (103) of claim 17, wherein the one or more solar arrays (401, 402, 403) of the solar units (304, 305, 306) are electrically connected in series with each other.

19. 20. The energy harvesting structure (103) of claim 18, wherein the at least one of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) have different radii of curvature forming the energy harvesting structure (103).

20. 16. The energy harvesting structure (103) of claim 15, wherein the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) comprising the number of solar units (304, 305, 306) are selected based on one or more of the angle of incidence of the incident light, the radius of curvature of each of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303), a shading condition, and a dust condition.

21. 16. The energy harvesting structure (103) of claim 15, further comprising a bypass unit configured to bypass each solar unit (304, 305, 306) of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) based on one or more of the incident light intensity of each surface, almanac information, weather data, dust accumulation on the surfaces, and curvature of the surfaces.

22. 1. A method for determining an optimal orientation for parking an energy harvesting vehicle (102) comprising an energy harvesting structure (103) in a parking position, the energy harvesting structure (103) comprising: a number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) receiving incident light over a number of time periods; a solar unit (304, 305, 306) provided on at least one of the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) for concentrating the incident light; a plurality of wiring elements (404, 502) electrically connecting the number of solar units (304, 305, 306) on the number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) to each other in one of a series connection and a parallel connection for energy conversion of the energy canopy (103) by concentrating the incident light; The method comprises: determining an instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) relative to a magnetic pole by at least one first sensor (109) of the energy harvesting vehicle (102); Identifying, by at least one second sensor (110) of the energy harvesting vehicle (102), the surface (301, 302, 303) of the energy harvesting structure (103) on which the solar units (304, 305, 306) are installed; analyzing, by a parking controller (107) of the energy harvesting vehicle (102), the instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) relative to the magnetic poles and the identified surfaces (301, 302, 303) with the solar units (304, 305, 306) to determine an optimal orientation in which a minimum number of surfaces (301, 302, 303) are shaded in the parking position; - comparing, by the parking control device (107), the instantaneous orientation with the determined optimal orientation using a predefined threshold value; notifying a user of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) to park the energy harvesting vehicle (102) in the determined optimal orientation based on a comparison between the current orientation and the determined optimal orientation by the parking control device (107); A method comprising:

23. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one first sensor (109) is one of a magnetic compass, a Hall sensor, an accelerometer, a sun sensor, a position sensor, a location sensor, and any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one second sensor (110) is one of a curvature sensor, a load sensor, a pressure sensor, and any combination thereof.

25. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising receiving, by the parking controller (107), almanac information for the current day and analyzing the instantaneous orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) relative to the magnetic poles.

26. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the parking control device (107) notifies the user of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) on one of a display interface and an audio interface of one of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) and a user device owned by the user.

27. 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one second sensor (110) identifies the surface (301, 302, 303) of the energy harvesting structure (103) on which dust has accumulated.

28. 28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of notifying the user by the parking control device (107) to clean the identified surfaces on which dust has accumulated in order to improve the efficiency of the energy harvesting structure (103).

29. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising generating, by the parking controller (107), periodic warnings for frequent adjustments of the orientation of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) to obtain a desired state of charge of an energy storage module charged using the energy harvesting structure (103).

30. 23. The method of claim 22, further comprising calculating, by the parking control device (107), a state of charge of an energy storage module and a driving range of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) based on sensor data of the at least one first sensor (109) and the at least one second sensor (110) and a user input for an estimated time interval for parking the energy harvesting vehicle (102) in the instantaneous orientation during a given movement.

31. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising: calculating, by the parking controller (107), the time required to fully charge the energy storage module using the energy harvesting structure (103) for a desired driving range of the energy harvesting vehicle (102) and notifying the user.

32. 31. The method of claim 30, further comprising the step of warning the user by the parking controller (107) of an insufficient charge of the energy storage module to prevent the user from becoming stranded.

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