Maximizing solar harvest with minimal sensor algorithm for adaptive solar panel positioning
This technology is an algorithm for maximizing solar panel energy harvest in complex lighting environments, including urban and indoor settings, using four low-cost photodetectors.
Unmet Need: Solar panel orientation that remains effective in diverse environments
Solar panels are typically deployed on large actuators that tilt according to a sun-tracking algorithm, using GPS coordinates and the time of day to estimate the sun’s position in the sky. While this approach performs well in open, unobstructed areas, it fails in complex lighting environments such as dense cities or cloudy days where the sun’s position is not a good proxy for the direction of maximum illumination. As solar panels are increasingly used in urban and indoor areas to power small devices, a low-cost flexible strategy that maximizes light intake in several different scenarios is critical.
The Technology: Minimal sensing orientation algorithm for improved, adaptable solar panels
This orientation system utilizes four small photodetectors on the periphery of a solar panel. By adjusting tilt angle and comparing the light measurements between them, the system computes a photodifferential signal that directs the solar panel towards the angle of maximum illuminance. Combining larger and smaller tilts smooths out the complex multi-peaked function describing the surrounding light field and converts it to a single-peaked function. This method surpasses typical light sensing methods by utilizing scale space theory mathematics to work iteratively towards a global optimum light intake while avoiding getting trapped in smaller bright spots.
This system has been validated with a combination of physical prototyping in real-world scenarios and simulation using illuminance data from the UrbanSky dataset containing 1,067 high-dynamic lighting conditions in New York City, where this technology outperformed both fixed-orientation and sun-tracking panels in harvested energy.
Applications:
- Deployment in dense urban environments
- Deployment in variable weather locations
- Solar-powered urban infrastructure such as street lighting, kiosks, and traffic sensors
- Indoor solar panels powering smart building devices and consumer electronics
Advantages:
- Avoids high-cost sensing tools like 360º cameras or multi-sensor arrays
- Avoids need for GPS
- Utilizes real-time capture data
- Compatible with single-panel actuator products with minimal modification
- Flexible across diverse lighting conditions including direct sunlight, overcast skies, shadows, reflections, and indoor artificial lighting
- Superior to fixed-orientation and sun-tracking panels
Lead Inventor:
Patent Information:
Patent Pending
Related Publications:
- Klotz J, Nayar SK. “Minimal sensing for orienting a solar panel” Sol Energy. 2025 Nov 1; 300:113833.
Tech Ventures Reference:
IR CU26090
Licensing Contact: Greg Maskel