Augmented reality tools for PV solar and/or storage system site survey, installation, commissioning, and operation and maintenance supported by on-site data collection
First Claim
1. An Augmented Reality (AR) device operable to perform the following:
- monitor and analyze visual content associated with a visible field of view of the AR device to self-determine that the AR device is present at a Photovoltaic (PV) solar site, wherein the field of view includes a visible portion of a site-specific activity environment at the PV solar site, and wherein the site-specific activity environment includes one of the following PV site-specific activities;
PV site survey and feasibility analysis activity,PV site installation and commissioning activity,PV site Operations and Maintenance (O&
M) activity, andPV site overhaul activity;
based on an analysis of the visual content, determine the site-specific activity environment surrounding the AR device; and
display information related to the site-specific activity environment on a display screen of the AR device.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method in which information relevant to a Photovoltaic (PV) solar-site specific activity environment is displayed on the display screen of an Augmented Reality (AR) device as part of the surrounding environment, instead of on a separate computing device or an installation manual. The activity environment includes PV solar site-specific survey and feasibility analysis, installation and commissioning, Operation and Maintenance (O&M), and site overhaul/removal activities. Thus, relevant information is available to an installer/technician at their fingertips so that the installer/technician can continue the task they are involved in without losing focus. The AR device may record relevant data during site survey and note important points, accelerate installation and commissioning, make O&M more efficient, and record the complete process for ongoing improvement/management of the site. Moreover, company-specific best practices may be loaded on the AR device as guidelines to make the process uniform across the entire fleet of installers.
1 Citation
17 Claims
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1. An Augmented Reality (AR) device operable to perform the following:
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monitor and analyze visual content associated with a visible field of view of the AR device to self-determine that the AR device is present at a Photovoltaic (PV) solar site, wherein the field of view includes a visible portion of a site-specific activity environment at the PV solar site, and wherein the site-specific activity environment includes one of the following PV site-specific activities; PV site survey and feasibility analysis activity, PV site installation and commissioning activity, PV site Operations and Maintenance (O&
M) activity, andPV site overhaul activity; based on an analysis of the visual content, determine the site-specific activity environment surrounding the AR device; and display information related to the site-specific activity environment on a display screen of the AR device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A non-transitory data storage medium operable with an Augmented Reality (AR) device and containing program instructions, which, when executed by the AR device, cause the AR device to perform the following:
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capture and analyze visual content within a field of view of the AR device to self-determine that the AR device is present at a Photovoltaic (PV) solar site, wherein the field of view relates to a visible portion of a site-specific activity environment at the PV solar site, and wherein the site-specific activity environment includes one of the following PV site-specific activities; PV site survey and feasibility analysis activity, PV site installation and commissioning activity, PV site Operations and Maintenance (O&
M) activity, andPV site overhaul activity; based on an analysis of the visual content, determine the site-specific activity environment surrounding the AR device; and display information related to the site-specific activity environment on a display screen of the AR device. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of facilitating management of a Photovoltaic (PV) solar site using an Augmented Reality (AR) device, wherein the method comprises:
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the AR device monitoring a visible field of view of the AR device; the AR device capturing and analyzing visual content within the field of view of the AR device; based on an analysis of the visual content, the AR device self-determining that the AR device is present at the PV solar site; the AR device identifying a site-specific activity environment at the PV solar site based on the analysis of the captured visual content, wherein the site-specific activity environment includes one of the following PV site-specific activities; PV site survey and feasibility analysis activity, PV site installation and commissioning activity, PV site Operations and Maintenance (O&
M) activity, andPV site overhaul activity; and the AR device displaying information related to the site-specific activity environment on a display screen of the AR device. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification