Aerial structure using photovoltaic panels with methods to optimize operational energy consumption, optimize renewable energy collection and reduce structural damage.

Abstract

An aerial structure with photovoltaic (PV) panels using attached sensors, such as electronic gyroscopes, accelerometers, barometers connected to a programmable central processing unit (PCPU) programmed to maintain a pre-determined, static position and orientation using a plurality of connected motion enabling and motion stopping devices, such as multiple airfoil rotors, electric winch connected tethers, lighter-than-air filled enclosure, electric gas pumps and electric heating elements. The structure may have sensors such as LiDar, Radar, Sonar, and video sensors to detect adverse external conditions such as high winds, lightening, and heavy rains that may cause the structure to increase operational energy consumption, reduce the renewable energy collected, and cause structural damage. The sensors will be connected to the PCPU, which will activate the motion enabling devices to move the structure away from these adverse external conditions. The structure will use sensors such as ambient light sensors and photoelectric sensors to detect a reduction in light contacting the photovoltaic collectors caused by clouds or other light blocking objects. These sensors, in conjunction with the other sensor information, will signal the PCPU to activate the motion enabling devices to move the structure to a position where the light is not being blocked which will increase the renewable energy collected. The optimization of operational energy consumption and renewable energy collected, and the reduction of structural damage makes the aerial structure feasible and useful.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.