HelioWatcher Allows Solar Panels To Track The Sun

HelioWatcher Allows Solar Panels To Track The Sun They're called solar panels for a reason: they need the sun in order to generate electricity. " Using a GPS module and magnetometer, the HelioWatcher allows the user to place the system anywhere in the world without any calibration. But what if the panels could automatically change their position to follow the sun and enjoy an uninterrupted flow of direct sunlight? Two electrical engineering students at Cornell are presently testing just such a technology, and it looks promising. The HelioWatcher then calculates what the sun's current location is and orients the panel to the appropriate angle. This system is a vast improvement over other solar tracking systems that adjust position based on either a predetermined algorithm or light detection. It also utilizes a quadrature of light-detecting diodes to correct for short-term light obstruction, such as clouds or shade. So throughout the day, the sun moves across the sky, cutting into the efficiency of fixed panels. As this review points out, HelioWatcher's design is simple and effective: "The base is mounted like a Lazy Susan, able to pivot on the horizontal plane. Here's a video, prepared by the two students, that explains the system:. HelioWatcher Allows Solar Panels To Track The Sun Trade News selected by Local Linkup on 06/06/2012