Systems and methods for reorienting solar panel array on in-motion vehicles using energy comparisons

A reconfigurable solar panel array system of a vehicle, comprising:

• a reconfigurable solar panel array mounted on the vehicle and comprising one or more solar panels,
• wherein the reconfigurable solar panel array:
• is secured at a first end and secured at a second end, and
• is configured to charge a battery of a vehicle;
• a bending mechanism configured to physically adjust an orientation of the reconfigurable solar panel array relative to a direction of sunlight;
• and
• a computing device, comprising a processor and a memory, wherein the memory is configured to store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
• when the vehicle is in motion, determine whether an amount of sunlight is above a threshold;
• when the amount of sunlight is above the threshold, determine a navigation route of the vehicle and divide the navigation route into a plurality of trip segments;
• and
• for each of the plurality of trip segments:
• predict a first amount of energy expected to be generated by the reconfigurable solar panel array when the reconfigurable solar panel array is adjusted to an optimal orientation with respect to the direction of sunlight for the trip segment;
• predict a second amount of energy required to mechanically actuate the bending mechanism to adjust the reconfigurable solar panel array to the optimal orientation;
• and
• compare the first amount of energy and the second amount of energy to determine a first net energy gain associated with adjusting the reconfigurable solar panel array;
• and
• control the bending mechanis n to physically adjust the orientation of the reconfigurable solar panel array during vehicle motion only when the first net energy gain is positive;
• wherein electrical energy generated by the reconfigurable solar panel array is supplied to charge the battery of the vehicle.