Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a panel cleaning method is provided. In one aspect, the panel cleaning system includes a storage tank containing pressurized air, first and second linear actuators, and a panel-cleaning device wherein the pressurized air contained in the storage tank operates the first and second actuators and the panel-cleaning device to clean PV panels. A further aspect includes sensors associated with the first and second actuators and panel-cleaning device and configured to scan and detect fluid and debris on the PV panels to be removed. Another aspect provides sensors associated with a panel cleaning system and a programmable controller or processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A panel cleaning system is provided which includes an inflatable wiper and a nozzle. In one aspect, the panel cleaning system includes pressurized air, linear actuators, and a panel-cleaning inflatable wiper wherein the pressurized air and the panel-cleaning wiper are configured to clean PV panels. A further aspect includes an inflatable wiper, a heater configured to heat pressurized air before the air flows out of nozzles and multiple air-driven pistons.

Abstract: A fuel delivery and storage method is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.

Abstract: A fuel delivery and storage system is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.

Abstract: The present invention solves a very complex problem that is a major obstacles for electric utility industry's power lines vegetation encroachment management business. Vegetation contacts to the high voltage overhead power lines cause flash-over and/or blackout which results in hazardous situations and economic losses. Power line vegetation management is a very cost intensive business process which is essential to ensure safe, reliable and affordable electric energy supply by the electric utilities, transmission and generation owners. This routine electric utility vegetation management related work is mandated and overseen by applicable federal, state or local regulatory agencies. The state-of-the-art vegetation management process involves labor and cost intensive foot-patrol, vehicular patrol, air patrol and airborne LiDAR patrol of power lines. These methods are often inefficient, unreliable, risky and costly.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a panel cleaning system is provided. In one aspect, the panel cleaning system includes a storage tank containing pressurized air, first and second linear actuators, and a panel-cleaning device wherein the pressurized air contained in the storage tank operates the first and second actuators and the panel-cleaning device to clean PV panels. A further aspect includes sensors associated with the first and second actuators and panel-cleaning device and configured to scan and detect fluid and debris on the PV panels to be removed. Another aspect provides sensors associated with a panel cleaning system and a programmable controller or processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium.

Abstract: A fuel delivery and storage system is provided. A further aspect employs a remote central controller and/or software instructions which receive sensor data from stationary and bulk fuel storage tanks, portable distribution tanks, and end use tanks. Another aspect of the present system senses and transmits tank or hydrogen fuel characteristics including temperature, pressure, filled volume, contaminants, refilling cycle life and environmental hazards. Still another aspect includes a group of hydrogen fuel tanks which is pre-assembled with sensor, valve, microprocessor and transmitter components, at least some of which are within an insulator.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a panel cleaning system is provided. In one aspect, the panel cleaning system includes a storage tank containing pressurized air, first and second linear actuators, and a panel-cleaning device wherein the pressurized air contained in the storage tank operates the first and second actuators and the panel-cleaning device to clean PV panels. A further aspect includes sensors associated with the first and second actuators and panel-cleaning device and configured to scan and detect fluid and debris on the PV panels to be removed. Another aspect provides sensors associated with a panel cleaning system and a programmable controller or processor configured to execute instructions stored in a nontransitory computer-readable medium.

Abstract: The present invention solves a very complex problem that is a major obstacles for electric utility industry's power lines vegetation encroachment management business. Vegetation contacts to the high voltage overhead power lines cause flash-over and/or blackout which results in hazardous situations and economic losses. Power line vegetation management is a very cost intensive business process which is essential to ensure safe, reliable and affordable electric energy supply by the electric utilities, transmission and generation owners. This routine electric utility vegetation management related work is mandated and overseen by applicable federal, state or local regulatory agencies. The state-of-the-art vegetation management process involves labor and cost intensive foot-patrol, vehicular patrol, air patrol and airborne LIDAR patrol of power lines. These methods are often inefficient, unreliable, risky and costly.

Abstract: Systems and methods for utility infrastructure condition monitoring, detection, and response are disclosed. One exemplary system includes a sensor package and a monitoring and control module. The sensor package includes a plurality of sensors such as, for example, an image sensor, a video sensor, and a LiDAR sensor. The sensors may each be configured to capture data indicative of one or more conditions (e.g., an environmental condition, a structural condition, etc.) in the vicinity of the utility infrastructure. The monitoring and control includes a detection module and an alert module. The detection module is configured to receive data captured by each sensor and, based on the captured data, determine one or more conditions in the vicinity of the utility infrastructure. The detection module may be configured to then, based on the determined conditions, provide an alert for the condition using the alert module.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and system for automated vegetation growth, condition and status monitoring near high voltage utility electric lines using stationary sensors, wireless or wired communications and computation technologies and proprietary algorithms. The method and system of the current invention monitors the power line infrastructures remotely and advises the vegetation maintenance crews on mitigating actions without requiring human interventions, thus saving cost and reducing risks to the humans and environment. A comprehensive vegetation encroachment condition report with vegetation proximity advisory (VPA) and vegetation resolution advisory (VRA) is automatically generated and transmitted to the operational staff by the system for each electric line span at certain time interval or continuously without boots-on-the-ground manual asset inspection and/or air patrol using aircraft.

Abstract: The present invention solves a very complex problem that is a major obstacles for electric utility industry's power lines vegetation encroachment management business. Vegetation contacts to the high voltage overhead power lines cause flash-over and/or blackout which results in hazardous situations and economic losses. Power line vegetation management is a very cost intensive business process which is essential to ensure safe, reliable and affordable electric energy supply by the electric utilities, transmission and generation owners. This routine electric utility vegetation management related work is mandated and overseen by applicable federal, state or local regulatory agencies. The state-of-the-art vegetation management process involves labor and cost intensive foot-patrol, vehicular patrol, air patrol and airborne LiDAR patrol of power lines. These methods are often inefficient, unreliable, risky and costly.

Abstract: The present invention solves a complex real problem that is a major obstacles for solar energy mass proliferation. Installation site survey is a very cost intensive business process for roof-top and ground mount solar energy systems it keeps the solar energy system cost relatively higher, This cost category is termed as ‘soft-cost’ in the industry. The present invention provides a method and system for conducting aerial data collection and producing specific geometric, geographic and solar shading related data of any physical locations using unmanned aircraft system (UAS)/unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)/remotely operated aircraft (ROA)/remotely piloted aircraft system (RPAS) platforms. This dataset is required for solar energy systems design, sales and marketing business processes. A comprehensive solar system design report is automatically generated and visualized via communication network incorporated in this system for a single or multiple solar site(s).