公开(公告)号：US12041897B2

公开(公告)日：2024-07-23

申请号：US17474003

申请日：2021-09-13

申请人： Purdue Research Foundation

发明人： Rakesh Agrawal ,  Muhammad Alam ,  Mitchell Tuinstra

IPC分类号： A01G9/24 ,  H02S20/10

CPC分类号： A01G9/243 ,  H02S20/10

摘要： A method and apparatus for generating solar power in agricultural fields while minimally impacting crop growth and farming efforts, including positioning an elongated solar panel above crops, wherein the elongated solar panel runs generally parallel to longitudinal lines and wherein the elongated solar panel has at least one solar transducing face and an endless edge surrounding and perpendicular to the at least one solar transducing face, automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel such that the at least one solar transducing face is oriented parallel to incident solar rays during predetermined times when plant growth requires incident sunlight, automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel such that the at least one solar transducing face is oriented parallel to the vertical during rain, automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel out of the way of heavy farm equipment, and automatically pivoting the elongated solar panel such that the at least one solar transducing face is oriented perpendicular to incident solar rays at predetermined times when plant growth does not require direct sunlight. The elongated solar panel is positioned sufficiently above crops to give clearance to heavy farm equipment passing therebelow and/or adjacent panels are spaced sufficiently apart such that heavy farm equipment may pass therebetween.