Solar panel installation system

Abstract

A solar panel installation system includes a solar panel unloading machine, a solar panel carrier machine, and a solar panel installation machine. The solar panel unloading machine is configured to autonomously interact with a shipping device carrying a plurality of solar panels to unload the plurality of solar panels from the shipping device and autonomously transfer the plurality of solar panels to the solar panel carrier machine. The solar panel carrier machine is configured autonomously transport the plurality of solar panels to a location proximate where the plurality of solar panels are to be installed. The solar panel installation machine is configured to autonomously pick up a respective solar panel of the plurality of solar panels from the solar panel carrier machine and autonomously provide the respective solar panel to an installation location where the respective solar panel can be secured to a solar panel support.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A solar panel installation system comprising:
 a solar panel unloading machine;   a solar panel carrier machine; and   a solar panel installation machine;   wherein:
 the solar panel unloading machine is configured to autonomously interact with a shipping device carrying a plurality of solar panels to unload the plurality of solar panels from the shipping device and autonomously transfer the plurality of solar panels to the solar panel carrier machine; 
 the solar panel carrier machine is configured autonomously transport the plurality of solar panels to a location proximate where the plurality of solar panels are to be installed; and 
 the solar panel installation machine is configured to autonomously pick up a respective solar panel of the plurality of solar panels from the solar panel carrier machine and autonomously provide the respective solar panel to an installation location where the respective solar panel can be secured to a solar panel support. 
   
     
     
         2 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the shipping device is a shipping container or a trailer. 
     
     
         3 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel unloading machine includes a first wireless communications interface, the solar panel carrier machine includes a second wireless communications interface, and the solar panel installation machine includes a third wireless communications interface, wherein the first wireless communications interface and the second wireless communications interface are configured to facilitate first wireless communications between the solar panel unloading machine and the solar panel carrier machine, and wherein the second wireless communications interface and the third wireless communications interface are configured to facilitate second wireless communications between the solar panel carrier machine and the solar panel installation machine. 
     
     
         4 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 3 , wherein at least a portion of at least one of the first wireless communications or the second wireless communications passes through a remote server. 
     
     
         5 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 3 , wherein the second wireless communications include leader-follower signals to coordinate motion between the solar panel installation machine and the solar panel carrier machine as the solar panel installation machine picks up each solar panel of the plurality of solar panels from the solar panel carrier machine and provides each solar panel to a corresponding installation location. 
     
     
         6 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel unloading machine includes:
 a boom assembly;   a carriage pivotably coupled to an end of the boom assembly; and   a pair of forks coupled to the carriage, the pair of forks configured to engage with a pallet or support structure upon which the plurality of solar panels are disposed.   
     
     
         7 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 6 , wherein the carriage includes:
 a first portion extending beneath the end of the boom assembly; and   a second portion extending substantially perpendicular to the first portion, wherein the second portion is pivotably coupled to the end of the boom assembly.   
     
     
         8 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 7 , wherein the pair of forks are pivotably coupled to the second portion. 
     
     
         9 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 7 , wherein the solar panel unloading machine includes an actuator extending between the end of the boom assembly and the second portion of the carriage. 
     
     
         10 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 7 , wherein the carriage includes a plurality of rollers coupled to the first portion. 
     
     
         11 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 10 , wherein each of the plurality of rollers includes a wheel, a linkage extending between the first portion of the carriage and the wheel, and a suspension member extending between the linkage and the first portion of the carriage. 
     
     
         12 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel carrier machine includes a 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 the plurality of solar panels, the carrier including:
 a base;   a headboard coupled to and extending upward from the base, the headboard positioned proximate the first end;   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 coupled to at least one of the base or the headboard, at least a portion of the barrier positioned proximate the opposing second end.   
     
     
         13 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 12 , wherein the solar panel carrier machine includes a chassis, wherein the base of the carrier is pivotably coupled to the chassis at a pivot point, and wherein the solar panel carrier machine includes an actuator positioned to facilitate pivoting the carrier relative to the chassis about the pivot point. 
     
     
         14 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of (a) the barrier is repositionable between a deployed barrier position and a stowed position to facilitate varying access to the stowage area or (b) the barrier is repositionable to adjust a depth of the carrier. 
     
     
         15 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 12 , wherein at least one of the first side support or the second side support is repositionable to adjust a width of the carrier. 
     
     
         16 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 12 , wherein the first side support and the second side support are selectively couplable to the base and the headboard to provide different configurations of the carrier including (a) a first configuration where the first side support and the second side support are coupled to the base and (b) a second configuration where the first side support and the second side support are coupled to the headboard, wherein, in the first configuration, at least a portion of the first side support and the second side support extends upward from the base, and wherein, in the second configuration, at least the portion of the first side support and the second side support extends from the headboard towards the opposing second end. 
     
     
         17 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 1 , wherein the solar panel installation machine includes:
 a second boom; and   an implement coupled to an end of the second boom, the implement including:
 a track; 
 a robotic arm coupled to and translatable along the track; and 
 a grabber assembly coupled to the robotic arm, the grabber assembly configured to engage with and facilitate picking up the respective solar panel. 
   
     
     
         18 . The solar panel installation system of  claim 17 , wherein the grabber assembly includes a plurality of suction interfaces. 
     
     
         19 . A solar panel installation system comprising:
 a solar panel unloading machine configured to unload a plurality of solar panels from a shipping device, the solar panel unloading machine including:
 a first boom; 
 a carriage pivotably coupled to an end of the first boom; 
 a plurality of rollers positioned along a bottom portion of the carriage; and 
 a pair of forks coupled to the carriage, the pair of forks configured to engage with a pallet or support structure upon which the plurality of solar panels are disposed; 
   a solar panel carrier machine configured to receive the plurality of solar panels unloaded by the solar panel unloading machine and transport the plurality of solar panels to a location proximate where the plurality of solar panels are to be installed, the solar panel carrier machine including a carrier defining a stowage area configured to receive the plurality of solar panels, wherein at least one of a width or a depth of the carrier is adjustable to facilitate varying a size of the stowage area, and wherein an angle of orientation of the carrier is adjustable; and   a solar panel installation machine configured to pick up a respective solar panel of the plurality of solar panels from the solar panel carrier machine and provide the respective solar panel to an installation location where the respective solar panel can be secured to a solar panel support, the solar panel installation machine including:
 a second boom; and 
 an implement coupled to an end of the second boom, the implement including:
 a track; 
 a robotic arm coupled to and translatable along the track; and 
 a grabber assembly coupled to the robotic arm, the grabber assembly configured to engage with and facilitate picking up the respective solar panel. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . A solar panel installation system comprising:
 a solar panel unloading machine including a first wireless communications interface;   a solar panel carrier machine including a second wireless communications interface; and   a solar panel installation machine including a third wireless communications interface;   wherein:
 the solar panel unloading machine is configured to unload a plurality of solar panels from a shipping device; 
 the first wireless communications interface and the second wireless communications interface are configured to facilitate first wireless communications between the solar panel unloading machine and the solar panel carrier machine so that the solar panel unloading machine can transfer the plurality of solar panels to the solar panel carrier machine; 
 the solar panel carrier machine is configured transport the plurality of solar panels to a location proximate where the plurality of solar panels are to be installed; and 
   the second wireless communications interface and the third wireless communications interface are configured to facilitate second wireless communications between the solar panel carrier machine and the solar panel installation machine to coordinate motion between the solar panel installation machine and the solar panel carrier machine as the solar panel installation machine (a) picks up each solar panel of the plurality of solar panels from the solar panel carrier machine and (b) provides each solar panel to a corresponding installation location to be secured to a solar panel support.