Comments on: Reducing the cost of solar power with mobile robots http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots Accelerating Intelligence Thu, 23 May 2013 04:16:50 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Guillermo Valle http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots/comment-page-1#comment-32337 Guillermo Valle Wed, 12 Sep 2012 10:44:35 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=162686#comment-32337 How does this work? I mean its just translating the panels, not changing their orientation. How can they then trace the Sun? How does this work? I mean its just translating the panels, not changing their orientation. How can they then trace the Sun?

]]> By: Track a phone by phone number http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots/comment-page-1#comment-32055 Track a phone by phone number Tue, 11 Sep 2012 06:31:27 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=162686#comment-32055 i think this is a wonderful innovation in solar industry if this machine workds well then it will surely reduce the electricity problem. i think this is a wonderful innovation in solar industry if this machine workds well then it will surely reduce the electricity problem.

]]> By: Dan Robinson http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots/comment-page-1#comment-32042 Dan Robinson Tue, 11 Sep 2012 03:54:59 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=162686#comment-32042 I don't see how more than maybe two small motors, with a system of cables and a pulley for each array, would be worthwhile. The main motor could shift arrays maybe once ever half hour, which I'm guessing should give better than 99% of maximum solar input. A secondary motor could shift them for seasons maybe once a month. Proper counter-balancing means minimal energy input. A solar array doesn't need near the precision of an astronomical telescope tracking a star. I built a portable telescope mount using my own version of good bearings and a small spring-wound clock. Proper balancing of the scope could allow the scope to power the clock, which only regulated the speed. I don’t see how more than maybe two small motors, with a system of cables and a pulley for each array, would be worthwhile. The main motor could shift arrays maybe once ever half hour, which I’m guessing should give better than 99% of maximum solar input. A secondary motor could shift them for seasons maybe once a month.

Proper counter-balancing means minimal energy input. A solar array doesn’t need near the precision of an astronomical telescope tracking a star. I built a portable telescope mount using my own version of good bearings and a small spring-wound clock. Proper balancing of the scope could allow the scope to power the clock, which only regulated the speed.

]]> By: Bri http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots/comment-page-1#comment-31981 Bri Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:45:03 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=162686#comment-31981 We are starting to turn to robotics in day to day situations. Irobot's was one of the first. It would hardly pass the definition of a robot that most people think of. This one is probably using the brain power to deal with any unforeseen problems such as birds nests ,jammed pivot points, etc. It's just another example of how they will give endless advantage over " mindless" mechanical devices. It still will look strange zipping along tending it's field of solar panels. Whether on tracks or totally self mobile and tending large numbers of panels. I'd stop and stare at it for awhile! We are starting to turn to robotics in day to day situations. Irobot’s was one of the first. It would hardly pass the definition of a robot that most people think of. This one is probably using the brain power to deal with any unforeseen problems such as birds nests ,jammed pivot points, etc. It’s just another example of how they will give endless advantage over ” mindless” mechanical devices. It still will look strange zipping along tending it’s field of solar panels. Whether on tracks or totally self mobile and tending large numbers of panels. I’d stop and stare at it for awhile!

]]> By: asiwel http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots/comment-page-1#comment-31964 asiwel Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:45:02 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=162686#comment-31964 You know, one would hardly call a simple sensor actuator system a "robot" nowadays. At first glance, this looks like a simple and elegant way of replacing a whole bunch of solar panel tracking sensors and positional servos with a single system that moves along a track from one to the next and nudges each a bit through some sort of simple mechanical linkage. It is certainly a good idea and clever mechanical engineering, but the feedback loop, immediate calculations, and guidance commands appear to me not more difficult than a science fair project and requiring far less computational power than any cell phone. These "robots" aren't quite ready to take over the world, but they can sure save lots of time and money. Engineering seems to always go from one-off/crude/clumsy to high tech/complex/expensive to simple/elegant/sophisticated/cheap. You know, one would hardly call a simple sensor actuator system a “robot” nowadays. At first glance, this looks like a simple and elegant way of replacing a whole bunch of solar panel tracking sensors and positional servos with a single system that moves along a track from one to the next and nudges each a bit through some sort of simple mechanical linkage. It is certainly a good idea and clever mechanical engineering, but the feedback loop, immediate calculations, and guidance commands appear to me not more difficult than a science fair project and requiring far less computational power than any cell phone. These “robots” aren’t quite ready to take over the world, but they can sure save lots of time and money. Engineering seems to always go from one-off/crude/clumsy to high tech/complex/expensive to simple/elegant/sophisticated/cheap.

]]> By: Bri http://www.kurzweilai.net/reducing-the-cost-of-solar-power-with-mobile-robots/comment-page-1#comment-31926 Bri Mon, 10 Sep 2012 12:30:01 +0000 http://www.kurzweilai.net/?p=162686#comment-31926 Here they come...walking down the street... They get the funniest looks from..... Everyone they meet!.... Hey hey there the robots. ( I'd like to comment on the Minning the Internet article...... No comment!) Here they come…walking down the street… They get the funniest looks from….. Everyone they meet!…. Hey hey there the robots. ( I’d like to comment on the Minning the Internet article…… No comment!)

]]>