Solar Mirror Soiling and Heliostat Inspection from a Mobile Imaging System and Mobile Platform

A method for inspecting a heliostat comprising:

• mounting a camera on a platform;
• acquiring with the camera a first image comprising a reference image of an object;
• acquiring with the camera a second image comprising a reflected image of the object;
• storing the first image and the second image in a memory portion of the camera;
• transmitting the stored first image and the second image to a computing apparatus;
• comparing the first image with the second image;
• and
• determining a performance parameter associated with the heliostat.

A computer-readable storage medium comprising instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts comprising:

• receiving a first image and a second image acquired from a camera mounted on a platform;
• the first image comprising a reference image of an object and the second image comprising a reflected image of the object;
• storing the first image and the second image in a memory portion of a computing apparatus;
• comparing the first image with the second image;
• and
• determining a performance parameter associated with the heliostat.