Manhattan 2

R&D Initiative To Create Low-Carbon Society

Automate Installation of Solar Material Onto Corrugated Steel Panels

Automate Installation of Solar Onto Steel Panel

It is a common practice to ship corrugated steel panels on a flatbed truck to a building site and then install onto a metal frame via crane, as shown above. Also, smart solar material can be factory installed to outside surface of corrugated steel via adhesive. This should be popular with commercial buildings, carports, parking lots, and houses.

Great Payback Period Due to Automation

The additional cost of adding smart solar material is estimated at $106 per square meter for material above corrugated steel (this does not include cost of electronics below panel). If one sells the electricity from this square meter to the grid, they can pay for this addition in 5 years. Why are these numbers so good? Factory mass production.

The above 15x12m (40x50ft, 180m2) 24kW solar array partially covers the back yard of a two story house with a first floor surface area of 9x12m (30x40ft). This might look strange at first blush yet 20 years from now fossil fuels will likely be much more expensive. A homeowner with several electric cars might sleep soundly knowing they have a 24kW back yard.

A large two car garage has a surface area of 53 square meters, and this could be covered with solar on plywood or steel panel. The electricity from this could be used to support driving a Tesla 3 car for 180km (112miles) each day.

Automated Installation

MA2 engineers develop a Robotic Construction Vehicle (RCV) to install precast footings and framing material. Different standardized robots attach to the end of the mechanical arm, as needed. This standard robot also assist in installing solar onto plywood.

Automated Framing/Foundation Installation

The RCV robotic vehicle installs frame foundation by first drilling hole with an auger, and then dropping a precast footing into hole with mechanical arm.

FYI, These Things Give you Money

If solar costs are low relative to revenue, then incentive to build is massive. Therefore, it is imperative that MA2 engineers figure out how to mass produce material and automate installation. If they are successful, we can expect to see much solar over homeowner yards, patios, parking lots, farm land, & gov't land near highway.