Systems, methods, and vehicles for maintaining solar panels
US10571274B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 6, 2017 |
| Grant date | Feb 25, 2020 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 6, 2037 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S901/44
- WIPO fieldHandling
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A method of locating a maintenance vehicle in a solar power field can include driving the maintenance vehicle on a track. A plurality of flags are coupled to the track at spaced locations. Each flag can include an ID tag and a contact target or a non-contact target. The maintenance vehicle can include an ID tag reader and a sensor configured to detect the contact target or the non-contact target. The method also can include driving the maintenance vehicle along the track to a position adjacent to a flag of the plurality of flags, reading by the ID tag reader the ID tag of that flag, and sensing by the sensor the contact target or the non-contact target. The method also can include, based on the reading and the sensing, identifying a unique location of the maintenance vehicle in the solar power field.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.