Solar panel installation system

Abstract

A carrier machine includes a chassis, a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the chassis, a prime mover coupled to the chassis and configured to drive one or more of the plurality of tractive elements, and a carrier coupled to the chassis. The carrier defines a stowage area. A width and a depth of the carrier are adjustable to facilitate varying a size of the stowage area.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar panel carrier machine comprising:
 a chassis;   a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the chassis;   a prime mover coupled to the chassis, the prime mover configured to drive one or more of the plurality of tractive elements; and   a carrier coupled to the chassis, the carrier having a first end, an opposing second end, a first side, and an opposing second side, the carrier defining a stowage area configured to receive a plurality of solar panels, the carrier including:
 a base assembly; 
 a headboard assembly coupled to and extending upward from the base assembly, the headboard assembly positioned proximate the first end; 
 a first side support assembly coupled to one of the base assembly or the headboard assembly, the first side support assembly positioned proximate the first side; 
 a second side support assembly coupled to one of the base assembly or the headboard assembly, the second side support assembly positioned proximate the opposing second side; and 
 a barrier assembly coupled to at least one of the base assembly or the headboard assembly, at least a portion of the barrier assembly positioned proximate the opposing second end; 
 wherein at least one of:
 (a) the carrier is pivotably coupled to the chassis such that an angle of the carrier is adjustable relative to the chassis; 
 (b) at least one of the first side support assembly or the second side support assembly is repositionable to adjust a width of the stowage area; 
 (c) the barrier assembly is repositionable between a deployed barrier position and a stowed position to facilitate varying access to the stowage area; or 
 (d) the barrier assembly is repositionable to adjust a depth of the stowage area. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , wherein:
 (a) the carrier is pivotably coupled to the chassis such that the angle of the carrier is adjustable relative to the chassis;   (b) the at least one of the first side support assembly or the second side support assembly is repositionable to adjust the width of the carrier;   (c) the barrier assembly is repositionable between the deployed barrier position and the stowed position to facilitate varying access to the stowage area; and   (d) the barrier assembly is repositionable to adjust the depth of the carrier.   
     
     
         3 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , wherein the carrier is pivotably coupled to the chassis such that the angle of the carrier is adjustable relative to the chassis. 
     
     
         4 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 3 , wherein the base assembly of the carrier is pivotably coupled to the chassis at a pivot point, further comprising an actuator positioned to facilitate pivoting the carrier relative to the chassis about the pivot point. 
     
     
         5 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 4 , wherein the actuator extends between a first interface defined the chassis and a second interface defined by the headboard assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first side support assembly and the second side support assembly are selectively couplable to the base assembly and the headboard assembly to provide different configurations of the carrier including (a) a first configuration where the first side support assembly and the second side support assembly are coupled to the base assembly and (b) a second configuration where the first side support assembly and the second side support assembly are coupled to the headboard assembly, wherein, in the first configuration, at least a portion of the first side support assembly and the second side support assembly extends upward from the base assembly, and wherein, in the second configuration, at least the portion of the first side support assembly and the second side support assembly extends from the headboard assembly towards the opposing second end. 
     
     
         7 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , wherein the first side support assembly is repositionable to adjust the width of the carrier. 
     
     
         8 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 7 , wherein the first side support assembly and the second side support assembly are both repositionable to adjust the width of the carrier. 
     
     
         9 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 7 , wherein the first side support assembly includes a side support member and an actuator, wherein the side support member includes (a) a first portion that engages with the base assembly or the headboard assembly and (b) a second portion extending from the first portion along the first side of the carrier and, thereby, the stowage area, and wherein the actuator is positioned to extend and retract the first portion relative to the base assembly or the headboard assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 9 , wherein the first portion includes (a) two beam members that are received by the base assembly or the headboard assembly and (b) a cross-member extending between the two beam members, wherein the second portion includes a plurality of posts extending from the cross-member, and wherein the actuator extends between (a) a first interface defined by the cross-member and (b) a second interface defined by the base assembly or the headboard assembly. 
     
     
         11 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier assembly is repositionable between the deployed barrier position and the stowed position to facilitate varying access to the stowage area. 
     
     
         12 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 11 , wherein the barrier assembly includes a barrier member and an actuator, wherein the barrier member includes (a) a first portion that engages with the base assembly and (b) a second portion extending from the first portion, and wherein the actuator is positioned to pivot the first portion relative to the base assembly and, thereby, pivot the second portion between the deployed barrier position and the stowed position to facilitate varying access to the stowage area. 
     
     
         13 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 12 , wherein the barrier member includes an arm coupled to an end of the first portion opposite the second portion, wherein the actuator extends between an interface defined by the headboard assembly and the arm. 
     
     
         14 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier assembly is repositionable to adjust the depth of the carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 14 , wherein the barrier assembly includes a barrier member and an actuator, wherein the barrier member includes (a) a first portion that engages with the base assembly and (b) a second portion extending from the first portion, and wherein the actuator is positioned to translate the first portion relative to the base assembly and, thereby, translate the second portion to adjust the depth of the carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 15 , wherein the barrier assembly includes a linkage positioned along the first portion, and wherein the actuator extends between an interface defined by the base assembly and the linkage. 
     
     
         17 . The solar panel carrier machine of  claim 1 , further comprising a control system configured to autonomously operate the solar panel carrier machine. 
     
     
         18 . A carrier machine comprising:
 a chassis;   a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the chassis;   a prime mover coupled to the chassis, the prime mover configured to drive one or more of the plurality of tractive elements; and   a carrier coupled to the chassis, the carrier defining a stowage area;   wherein a width and a depth of the carrier are adjustable to facilitate varying a size of the stowage area.   
     
     
         19 . The carrier machine of  claim 18 , wherein the carrier is pivotably coupled to the chassis. 
     
     
         20 . A carrier machine comprising:
 a chassis; and   a carrier coupled to the chassis, the carrier having a first end, an opposing second end, a first side, and an opposing second side, the carrier defining a stowage area, the carrier including:
 a base; 
 a headboard coupled to the base, the headboard positioned proximate the first end, the headboard defining an interface; 
 a first side support coupled to one of the base or the headboard, the first side support positioned proximate the first side; 
 a second side support coupled to one of the base or the headboard, the second side support positioned proximate the opposing second side; and 
 a barrier including:
 a barrier member including (a) a first portion that engages with the base, (b) a second portion extending from the first portion, and (c) an arm coupled to the first portion; 
 an actuator extending between the interface of the headboard and the arm such that the actuator is positioned to pivot the first portion relative to the base and, thereby, pivot the second portion between a deployed position and a stowed position to facilitate varying access to the stowage area.