Robotics company ULC Technologies was contracted by Rosendin to design and develop a robotic solution for solar module installation. The robotic systems, which have already undertaken field trials on real-world utility-scale solar construction sites, work in collaboration with skilled trade workers to accelerate construction timeframes, increase worker safety and support the expansion of renewable energy production.
“The solution we designed and developed consists of three separate autonomous systems, a Panel Setting Robot and two Panel Carrier Robots, working collaboratively with human operators to install solar PV panels at mid- to large-scale solar facilities,” said Ali Asmari, Director of R&D Project Management at ULC Technologies. “The Panel Setting Robot is a construction-grade tracked robotic platform with an integrated robotic arm to perform semi-autonomous installation of solar panels in collaboration with human operators. Once the robot positions the panel, field operators can guide it into position and complete the installation with fastening hardware and electrical connections.”
The two Panel Carrier Robots carry pallets of solar panels between the loading area and the Panel Setting Robot’s installation location–ensuring a continuous feed of panels and eliminating downtime.
The solar panel installation robots were designed to withstand exposure to high temperatures while navigating a range of construction site terrain including deep mud, uneven surfaces and more. This upfront work enabled ULC to rapidly move from the conceptualization phase of the project to field trials in just 18 months.
The robots were extensively field-tested at utility-scale solar construction sites, resulting in a robotic system capable of production rates of under one minute per panel. In a ten-hour shift, ULC estimates the robots along with a 2-person crew could install 600 panels.
Traditional installation methods require extensive manual labor. Large solar farms can have upwards of 1 milion panels that need to be installed and, with each panel weighing 80 to 100 lbs, this translates to strenuous work. In addition, the remote nature of solar sites makes it challenging for contractors to find enough skilled labor to meet the demand.
“Working with Rosendin’s use case, we designed and developed a solution that will revolutionize solar panel installation at large-scale sites,” said Steve Green, VP of Business Development for Location and Inspection at SPX Technologies, the parent company of ULC Technologies. “Extensive field testing proved how the robots relieve heavy lifting from workers, supplementing their expertise with a supportive tool that helps protect workers while allowing them to be more productive.”
News item from ULC Technologies
