Solar Vehicle Navigation for Shading-Aware Route Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shading of photovoltaic solar arrays on solar vehicles due to physical components can lead to a disproportionately large reduction in electrical energy generation, limiting the vehicle's power output and operational efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An autonomous or semi-autonomous solar vehicle system that includes a steering system and an electronic system with a control system. The control system obtains a target geographic destination and configuration data defining a target solar vector, identifies the current geographic positioning and solar vector, and steers the vehicle along an indirect path to maximize solar energy generation by minimizing shading.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If the vehicle travels along a direct path from current location to target destination, then the travel time is minimized, but the electrical energy generated by photovoltaic solar arrays is significantly reduced due to shading
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system dynamically adjusts the vehicle's path based on real-time solar vector calculations and geographic positioning. The control system continuously computes optimal trajectories that balance progress toward the destination with maximization of solar array exposure, allowing the vehicle to adapt its route as solar conditions change throughout the day
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a third dimension to traditional navigation by incorporating solar vector orientation into the path planning algorithm. Instead of solely considering geographic coordinates (2D), the navigation now accounts for the angular relationship between the solar arrays and the sun's position, creating a multi-dimensional optimization problem that simultaneously evaluates spatial displacement and solar energy capture potential
2Use of energy by moving object
If the vehicle adjusts its path to maximize solar energy generation, then electrical energy output increases, but the travel distance and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The control system varies multiple parameters simultaneously including vehicle heading angle, speed, and path curvature to optimize the trade-off between energy generation and travel efficiency. By adjusting these parameters dynamically, the system finds optimal operating points where the vehicle maintains reasonable progress toward the destination while maximizing solar array exposure during critical periods
3Use of energy by moving object
If photovoltaic solar arrays are mounted on the vehicle body, then solar energy can be harvested during travel, but physical components cast shadows that disproportionately reduce electrical power output
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculations of shadow patterns cast by vehicle components throughout the day based on predicted solar positions. Using this advance information, the navigation system proactively plans routes and orientations that avoid critical shadow zones, preventing power losses before they occur rather than reacting to them after they happen
Solution Approach 2:
The control system continuously monitors actual power output from the solar arrays and compares it to expected output based on solar position and vehicle orientation. This feedback loop allows the system to detect when shading from vehicle components is occurring and dynamically adjust the vehicle's path or orientation to mitigate the shading effect in real-time
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 system increases the total amount of electrical energy generated by the photovoltaic solar arrays compared to a direct path, enhancing the vehicle's power supply and operational efficiency during solar hours.
Implementation Method 1
photovoltaic solar arrays convert solar energy into electricity
Data Source
AI summary
Navigation of a solar vehicle is provided by obtaining a target geographic destination for the vehicle having one or more photovoltaic solar arrays; obtaining configuration data defining a target solar vector relative to a reference frame of the vehicle; identifying a current geographic positioning of the vehicle via a geo-positioning system of the vehicle, including a current geographic location and a current geographic orientation of the vehicle; identifying a current solar vector relative to the reference frame of the vehicle; and during at least a portion of a solar day, outputting a steering command for the vehicle for an indirect path from the current geographic location toward the target geographic destination that is based, at least in part, on a comparison of the current solar vector to the target solar vector. The steering command can be presented to a human operator or programmatically implemented by an autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicle.