Tracker system and method

Abstract

An actuator assembly system array. The actuator assembly system array comprises a plurality of separate actuator assembly systems arranged in a row, with each actuator assembly system of the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems comprising: an array of one or more solar panels; a plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies; and a plurality of posts respectively coupled to and extending from the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies. The actuator assembly system array further includes a fluidic control system comprising a plurality of fluid lines extending between and fluidically coupling the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems in series.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An actuator assembly system array, the actuator assembly system array comprising:
 a plurality of separate actuator assembly systems arranged in a linearly aligned row on a portion of the ground, with each actuator assembly system of the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems comprising:
 an array of a plurality of solar panels of the same size disposed adjacent to each other in a common plane in only a single row, the array of the plurality of solar panels coupled together via a pair of linear support rails that extend along respective parallel axes that are parallel to the common plane of the plurality of solar panels, the array of the plurality of solar panels configured to collectively rotate in unison about no more than a single axis of rotation based on an angle or position of the sun; 
 a plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies respectively extending between and coupled to the linear support rails, the fluidic actuator assemblies configured to collectively rotate the array of the plurality of solar panels in unison about the no more than the single axis of rotation based on the angle or position of the sun, with each respective fluidic actuator assembly of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies comprising:
 a V-shaped bottom plate; 
 a planar top plate rotatably coupled to the V-shaped bottom plate, with the rotatable coupling configured for rotation about the single axis of rotation; and 
 a first inflatable actuator and a second inflatable actuator disposed between the V-shaped bottom plate and the planar top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, the first and second inflatable actuator configured to be inflated and deflated to cause the array of the plurality of solar panels to rotate about the no more than the single axis of rotation; and 
 
 a plurality of posts respectively coupled to and extending from the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies along a respective parallel axis, with respective posts of the plurality of posts disposed in the ground to couple the actuator assembly system to the ground, with the length of the respective posts between the respective fluidic actuator assemblies to the ground being disposed in the ground at different lengths; and 
   a fluidic control system comprising a plurality of fluid lines extending between and fluidically coupling the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems in series, the fluidic control system comprising:
 a first fluid channel with a first set of fluid lines, that fluidically couple the respective first inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series, and 
 a second fluid channel with a second set of fluid lines that are separate from the first set of fluid lines, the second set of fluid lines fluidically coupling the respective second inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series, 
 the fluidic control system configured to actuate, via a common shared fluid source, the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems of the actuator assembly system array in unison including causing the plurality of solar panels of the respective actuator assembly systems to rotate about the no more than the single axis of rotation of the respective actuator assembly systems in unison based on the angle or position of the sun. 
   
     
     
         2 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 1 , wherein actuation of the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems of the actuator assembly system array in unison includes:
 first inflation in unison or first deflation in unison of the respective first inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series, the first inflation in unison or first deflation in unison being via the first set of fluid lines of the first fluid channel; and   second inflation in unison or second deflation in unison of the respective second inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series, the second inflation in unison or second deflation in unison being via the second set of fluid lines of the second fluid channel.   
     
     
         3 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 1 , wherein each of the respective actuator assembly systems has:
 no more and no less than two fluidic actuator assemblies; and   no more than two posts and no less than two posts respectively extending from the two fluidic actuator assemblies into the ground.   
     
     
         4 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 1 , wherein each of the respective actuator assembly systems has:
 a plurality of separate actuator assembly systems arranged in a plurality of linearly aligned rows on a portion of the ground, wherein the plurality of linearly aligned rows are disposed in parallel to each other, and wherein each of the plurality of linearly aligned rows comprises a separate plurality of actuator assembly systems.   
     
     
         5 . An actuator assembly system array, the actuator assembly system array comprising:
 a plurality of separate actuator assembly systems arranged in a linearly aligned row, with each actuator assembly system of the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems comprising:
 an array of one or more solar panels coupled to a pair of linear support rails that extend along respective parallel axes that are parallel to a plane of the one or more solar panels, the array of the one or more solar panels configured to rotate about no more than a single axis of rotation based on an angle or position of the sun; 
 a plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies respectively extending between and coupled to the linear support rails, the fluidic actuator assemblies configured to rotate the array of the one or more solar panels about the no more than the single axis of rotation based on the angle or position of the sun; and 
 a plurality of posts respectively coupled to and extending from the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies along a respective parallel axis; and 
   a fluidic control system comprising a plurality of fluid lines extending between and fluidically coupling the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems in series.   
     
     
         6 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 5 , wherein an array comprises a plurality of solar panels of the same size disposed adjacent to each other in a common plane in only a single row, the plurality of solar panels configured to collectively rotate in unison about no more than a single axis of rotation based on an angle or position of the sun. 
     
     
         7 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 5 , wherein respective posts between the respective fluidic actuator assemblies have different lengths. 
     
     
         8 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 5 , wherein the fluidic control system comprises:
 a first fluid channel with a first set of fluid lines, that fluidically couple respective first inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series, and   a second fluid channel with a second set of fluid lines that are separate from the first set of fluid lines, the second set of fluid lines fluidically coupling respective second inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series,   the fluidic control system configured to actuate the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems of the actuator assembly system array in unison including causing the one or more solar panels of the respective actuator assembly systems to rotate about the no more than the single axis of rotation of the respective actuator assembly systems in unison based on the angle or position of the sun.   
     
     
         9 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 5 , wherein each respective fluidic actuator assembly of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies comprises:
 a bottom plate;   a planar top plate rotatably coupled to the bottom plate, with the rotatable coupling configured for rotation about the single axis of rotation; and   a first inflatable actuator and a second inflatable actuator disposed between the bottom plate and the planar top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, the first and second inflatable actuator configured to be inflated and deflated to cause the array of the one or more solar panels to rotate about the no more than the single axis of rotation.   
     
     
         10 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 5 , wherein each of the respective actuator assembly systems has:
 no more and no less than two fluidic actuator assemblies; and   no more than two posts and no less than two posts respectively extending from the two fluidic actuator assemblies into the ground.   
     
     
         11 . An actuator assembly system array, the actuator assembly system array comprising:
 a plurality of separate actuator assembly systems arranged in a row, with each actuator assembly system of the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems comprising:
 an array of one or more solar panels; 
 a plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies; and 
 a plurality of posts respectively coupled to and extending from the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies; and 
   a fluidic control system comprising a plurality of fluid lines extending between and fluidically coupling the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems in series.   
     
     
         12 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of separate actuator assembly systems are arranged linearly aligned in the row. 
     
     
         13 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein the array of the one or more solar panels are coupled to a pair of linear support rails that extend along respective parallel axes that are parallel to a plane of the one or more solar panels. 
     
     
         14 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 13 , wherein the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies respectively extend between and are coupled to the linear support rails. 
     
     
         15 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein the array of the one or more solar panels are configured to rotate about no more than a single axis of rotation. 
     
     
         16 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein an array comprises a plurality of solar panels disposed adjacent to each other in a common plane in only a single row, the plurality of solar panels configured to collectively rotate in unison about no more than a single axis of rotation based on an angle or position of the sun. 
     
     
         17 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein respective posts between the respective fluidic actuator assemblies have different lengths. 
     
     
         18 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein the fluidic control system comprises:
 a first fluid channel with a first set of fluid lines, that fluidically couple respective first inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series, and   a second fluid channel with a second set of fluid lines that are separate from the first set of fluid lines, the second set of fluid lines fluidically coupling respective second inflatable actuators of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies in series.   
     
     
         19 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein each respective fluidic actuator assembly of the plurality of fluidic actuator assemblies comprises:
 a bottom plate;   a top plate rotatably coupled to the bottom plate, with the rotatable coupling configured for rotation about only a single axis of rotation; and   a first inflatable actuator and a second inflatable actuator disposed between the bottom plate and the top plate on opposing sides of the rotatable coupling, the first and second inflatable actuator configured to be inflated and deflated to cause the array of one or more solar panels to rotate about no more than the single axis of rotation.   
     
     
         20 . The actuator assembly system array of  claim 11 , wherein each of the respective actuator assembly systems has:
 no more than two posts and no less than two posts respectively extending from two fluidic actuator assemblies into the ground.