| Work Detail |
Sarcos has developed a robotic solution for the construction of large-scale solar plants. The robot delivers, detects, lifts and places photovoltaic modules in the plants.
Industrial robotic systems manufacturer Sarcos has developed a solution to automate and speed up the construction of large-scale solar power plants.
The US company has recently achieved final validation of its prototype solution in the Outdoor Autonomous Manipulation of Photovoltaic Panels (O-AMPP) project, funded by the US Department of Energy. Sarcos did not disclose the exact location of the pilot facility.
“The solar building industry is facing unprecedented labor shortages while simultaneously increasing demand for solar power,” said Trent Mostaert, vice president of industrialization for the building engineering company Mortenson, partner of the O-AMPP project. “We believe the O-AMPP system can address these challenges while improving worker safety, productivity and efficiency. It will also enable developers of solar projects to scale production and performance to the levels necessary to meet the Department of Energys renewable energy goals for 2030 and 2050."
The robotic system consists of an autonomous work vehicle with Sarcos Guardian XM robotic arm and an autonomous delivery vehicle. The solution uses cameras to identify where the panels should be installed. The robotic arm autonomously lifts the panel using a vacuum system and positions it approximately where it needs to be attached to the mounting structure. “The arm then goes into a special mode where the person fixing the panel can easily move it in any way they need to align and fix it to the panels,” Sarcos explains in a video on his website.
The company has not provided details about possible mechanical stress on the modules caused by the lifting mechanism of the vacuum system. He points out that the advantages of the robotic solution include lower costs, multiplication of projects, shorter construction timelines and a safer workplace that reduces the risk of injuries related to fatigue and lifting heavy equipment.
The O-AMPP project started in 2021 and Sarcos expects to commercialize its solution in 2024. “Achieving this milestone of market validation and field testing is a critical step on our path to commercialization of our robotic solar plant construction solution and the increased safety and productivity in the plant construction industry,” said Kiva Allgood, CEO of Sarcos.
Array Technologies provided the tracking system used in the pilot project. Other industrial partners included the equipment manufacturer JLG Industries, the automobile company Pratt Miller and Mortenson. |
