Stowable tracking photovoltaic array

A method, comprising:

• operating a motor with a control system to turn a central hub effective to azimuthally displace photovoltaic segments between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement, wherein:
• in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked;
• in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced about the central hub, and each of the photovoltaic segments are interlocked with an adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments;
• and
• the plurality of photovoltaic segments are configured to supply a potential difference across electrical terminals in response to exposure to incident radiation;
• and
• operating at least one adjustable length strut with the control system to dynamically position the photovoltaic segments to adjust an effective surface of the photovoltaic segments exposed to the incident radiation, such that normal vectors of the photovoltaic segments, weighted by their respective active areas, are on average parallel to the incident radiation.

A control system, comprising:

• a user interface coupled to the control system, wherein the user interface is configured to receive a user activation;
• a deployment control coupled to the control system and configured to operate a motor in response to the user activation received at the user interface, wherein the motor is configured to azimuthally displace photovoltaic segments between a stowed arrangement and a deployed arrangement, and wherein:
• in the stowed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are stacked;
• in the deployed arrangement, the photovoltaic segments are azimuthally displaced about the central hub, and each of the photovoltaic segments are interlocked with an adjacent two of the photovoltaic segments;
• and
• the plurality of photovoltaic segments are configured to supply a potential difference across electrical terminals in response to exposure to incident radiation;
• and
• a position control coupled to the control system and configured to control at least one adjustable length strut coupled to the plurality of photovoltaic segments to dynamically position the deployed photovoltaic segments to adjust an effective surface of the photovoltaic segments exposed to the incident radiation, such that normal vectors of the photovoltaic segments, weighted by their respective active areas, are on average parallel to the incident radiation.