Solar panel dispensing device with vertical solar panel hopper loading and dispensing

A solar panel dispensing system, comprising:

• a solar panel dispensing device comprising:
• a base;
• a frame extending from the base, the frame and base defining a hopper having an interior volume, the hopper being configured to receive and support one or more solar panels in a supported orientation;
• a robotic arm moveable about the hopper, the robotic arm comprising:
• a first end supported on the at least one of the base, the frame, or an arm mount, the robotic arm being moveable in one or more degrees of freedom;
• a solar panel end effector supported on a second end of the robotic arm, the solar panel end effector comprising an interfacing orientation and a release orientation;
• and
• an arm actuator operable to move the second end of the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation;
• a mobile platform in support of the solar panel dispensing device and configured to move and maneuver about an environment;
• and
• a support platform positioned on the mobile platform proximate the robotic arm, the support platform being configured to receive from the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector an acquired lead solar panel,
• wherein the solar panel end effector is operable in the interfacing orientation to acquire the lead solar panel of the one or more solar panels supported in the hopper;
• wherein the interfacing orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in the supported orientation, and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

A method of configuring a solar panel dispensing system, comprising:

• configuring the solar panel dispensing device to comprise a base, and to be supported on a mobile platform;
• configuring the solar panel dispensing device to comprise a frame extending from the base, the frame and base defining a hopper having an interior volume, the hopper being configured to contain one or more solar panels therein;
• configuring the solar panel dispensing device to comprise a robotic arm moveable about the hopper in one or more degrees of freedom,
• configuring the robotic arm to comprise a first end supported on the at least one of the base, the frame, or an arm mount;
• configuring the robotic arm to comprise a second end distal to the first end;
• configuring the robotic arm to comprise a solar panel end effector supported on the second end, the solar panel end effector being operable to acquire a lead solar panel of the one or more solar panels, the solar panel end effector comprising an interfacing orientation and a release orientation;
• configuring the robotic arm to comprise an actuator operable to move the second end of the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation;
• and
• configuring the robotic arm of the solar panel dispensing device to dispense the lead solar panel into a solar panel installation device supported on the mobile platform in a position adjacent the solar panel dispensing device,
• wherein the interfacing orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to an orientation of the lead solar panel as supported within the hopper, and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

A method of dispensing one or more solar panels from a solar panel dispensing system, comprising:

• positioning a solar panel dispensing device via a mobile platform in support of the solar panel dispensing device;
• supporting one or more solar panels in an upright orientation within a hopper of the solar panel dispensing device, the hopper comprising a base and a frame extending from the base defining an interior volume;
• acquiring a lead solar panel of the one or more solar panels supported in the hopper with a solar panel end effector of a robotic arm, the solar panel end effector comprising an interfacing orientation, at which the solar panel end effector is operable to acquire the lead solar panel;
• actuating the robotic arm with an actuator to move the solar panel end effector from the interfacing orientation to a release orientation, at which the solar panel end effector is operable to release the lead solar panel to a solar panel installation device supported on the mobile platform in a position adjacent the solar panel dispensing device;
• wherein the interfacing orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in the upright orientation, and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

A solar panel dispensing device, comprising:

• a base;
• a frame extending from the base, the frame and base defining a hopper having an interior volume, the hopper being configured to contain one or more solar panels therein with the solar panels supported in an upright orientation, the frame further comprising a panel feed mechanism comprising a solar panel interface member moveably coupled to the hopper;
• and a feed actuator operable to bi-directionally move the solar panel interface member along an axis relative to the hopper;
• a robotic arm moveable about the hopper in one or more degrees of freedom, the robotic arm comprising:
• a first end supported on at least one of the base, the frame, or an arm mount positioned to facilitate interaction between the robotic arm and the hopper;
• a second end distal to the first end;
• a solar panel end effector supported on the second end, the solar panel end effector being operable to acquire a lead solar panel of the one or more solar panels oriented in the upright orientation, the solar panel end effector comprising an interfacing orientation and a release orientation;
• an arm actuator operable to move the second end of the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation,
• wherein the interfacing orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in the upright orientation, and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in a presentation orientation.

A solar panel dispensing device, comprising:

• a base;
• a frame extending from the base, the frame and base defining a hopper having an interior volume, the hopper being configured to contain one or more solar panels therein with the solar panels supported in an upright orientation, the frame further comprising a solar panel separator mechanism comprising:
• a flipper pivotably coupled to the base of the hopper, the flipper corresponding to a position within the hopper configured to receive a solar panel, wherein the flipper comprises a storage orientation, in which the flipper is aligned with the base or extends away from the interior volume of the hopper, and a spacer orientation, in which the flipper extends into the hopper;
• and
• a flipper actuator operable to rotate the flipper relative to the base of the hopper from the storage orientation to the spacer orientation;
• and
• a robotic arm moveable about the hopper in one or more degrees of freedom, the robotic arm comprising:
• a first end supported on at least one of the base, the frame, or an arm mount positioned to facilitate interaction between the robotic arm and the hopper;
• a second end distal to the first end;
• a solar panel end effector supported on the second end, the solar panel end effector being operable to acquire a lead solar panel of the one or more solar panels oriented in the upright orientation, the solar panel end effector comprising an interfacing orientation and a release orientation;
• and
• an arm actuator operable to move the second end of the robotic arm and the solar panel end effector between the interfacing orientation and the release orientation,
• wherein the interfacing orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in the upright orientation, and the release orientation of the solar panel end effector corresponds to the lead solar panel being in a presentation orientation.