Portable Solar Tracker Assembly for RVs
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Modern RVs equipped with solar panels face inefficiencies due to the inability of traditional solar trackers to adapt to sun movement and withstand wind and highway speeds, requiring a lightweight, robust, and automated solar tracking system that can retract for safe transport.
Innovation Solution
A portable solar tracker assembly using lightweight materials, sensors, and actuators, controlled by an electronic controller, which automatically aligns solar panels to maximize energy absorption and retracts during high winds or vehicle movement, featuring a compact design with minimal power consumption and remote monitoring capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional solar trackers are used on RVs, then solar energy tracking capability is improved, but weight and structural strength requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The solar tracker is divided into multiple independent segments that can fold and retract. The solar panel array is segmented into movable sections connected by hinges, allowing partial deployment and reduction of wind loading while maintaining tracking capability when extended
Solution Approach 2:
The tracker transitions from a static fixed-mount configuration to a dynamic deployable structure. The system can change its configuration between retracted (low profile) and deployed (tracking) states, adapting to different operational conditions such as travel versus camping modes
2Reliability
If solar trackers are designed to withstand high winds and highway speeds, then safety and reliability are improved, but device complexity and structural weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system proactively retracts or folds the solar panels before high-wind conditions or highway travel occur. Sensors detect approaching storms or vehicle motion and trigger automatic retraction, preventing wind damage without requiring overly robust structural design
Solution Approach 2:
The tracker system monitors its own environmental conditions through integrated sensors (anemometers, motion detectors) and automatically adjusts its configuration without external intervention, managing its own safety and operational state
3Weight of moving object
If solar trackers are made lightweight for RV use, then ease of installation and portability are improved, but structural strength and wind resistance decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The solar panel mounting structure uses thin, flexible connection elements and hinge mechanisms that minimize weight. The panels themselves can be standard lightweight RV solar panels, connected through a minimal-weight framework that provides sufficient strength when deployed but offers little resistance when retracted
4Ease of manufacture
If solar panels are mounted flat on RV roofs, then installation simplicity is improved, but energy generation efficiency decreases due to inability to track the sun
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from a static flat-mount configuration to a dynamic tracking configuration. When deployed, the panels can tilt and rotate to follow the sun's path, significantly increasing energy capture. The tracking mechanism uses simple motors and sensors that maintain ease of installation while adding operational flexibility
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solar tracker assembly enhances energy efficiency by tracking the sun's movement, reduces wind resistance, and ensures safety during transport by automatically folding down, providing a scalable and cost-effective solution for various RV types and solar panel configurations.
Implementation Method 1
solar panels to augment the charging of the RV internal batteries
Implementation Method 2
sensors, and actuators, controlled by an electronic controller, which automatically aligns solar panels
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is a lightweight, portable solar tracker assembly that has a bottom frame coupled to a rotation drive disc coupled to a rotational linear actuator and a middle frame rotatably coupled to the bottom frame via the rotation drive disc such that when activated, the middle frame rotates. The assembly further has a solar array mounting frame coupled to the middle frame and comprising a vertical linear actuator coupled to the middle frame such than when activated, the solar array mounting frame moves vertically, and when the middle frame rotates, the solar array mounting frame rotates and at least one solar cell fixedly coupled to the solar array mounting frame. In addition, the assembly has a processor configured to determine a position in a sky of a sun, actuate the vertical linear actuator and the rotational linear actuator so that the at least one solar cell is aligned with the sun.