Rosendin Electrical examined photo voltaic module set up with robots it contracted ULC to construct. Supply: ULC Applied sciences
Building of photovoltaic cells requires heavy lifting, exact meeting, and repetitive placement at scale, making it an excellent use case for robotics. ULC Applied sciences LLC final week mentioned Rosendin Electrical Inc. has contracted it to design and develop a robotic system for photo voltaic module set up.
ULC mentioned its methods have already undertaken area trials on real-world photo voltaic development websites. They work with expert commerce staff to speed up development timeframes, enhance employee security, and assist the growth of renewable vitality manufacturing, claimed the Hauppauge, N.Y.-based firm.
“The answer we designed and developed consists of three separate autonomous methods, a Panel Setting Robotic and two Panel Service Robots, working collaboratively with human operators to put in photo voltaic PV panels at mid- to large-scale photo voltaic amenities,” defined Ali Asmari, director of analysis and improvement mission administration at ULC Applied sciences.
ULC gained a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its Cable Splicing Machine, which it developed with Con Edison Firm of New York. The 2025 RBR50 award winners will probably be acknowledged at a gala dinner on the Robotics Summit & Expo.
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ULC designs rugged methods for quick rollout
“The Panel Setting Robotic is a development-grade tracked robotic platform with an built-in robotic arm to carry out semi-autonomous set up of photo voltaic panels in collaboration with human operators,” Asmari mentioned. “As soon as the robotic positions the panel, area operators can information it into place and full the set up with fastening {hardware} and electrical connections.”
The 2 Panel Service Robots carry pallets of photo voltaic panels between the loading space and the Panel Setting Robotic’s set up location. This ensures a steady feed of panels and eliminating downtime.
The robots have been designed to resist publicity to excessive temperatures whereas navigating a variety of development website terrain together with deep mud, uneven surfaces, and extra. ULC mentioned this upfront work enabled it to quickly transfer from the conceptualization section of the mission to area trials in simply 18 months.
Based in 2001, ULC Applied sciences designs, develops, and deploys robots, synthetic intelligence processes, and inspection methods for the vitality, utility, renewables, and industrial sectors. The firm mentioned its applied sciences assist firms trigger much less disruption to the general public, scale back greenhouse fuel emissions, enhance employee security, and reduce prices.
ULC has developed a number of robots to hold and set up photovoltaic modules. Supply: ULC Applied sciences
Rosendin runs area checks of photo voltaic set up robots
Conventional set up strategies require intensive guide labor, famous ULC Applied sciences. Massive photo voltaic farms can have as much as 1 million panels that must be put in and, with every panel weighing 80 to 100 lb. (36.2 to 45.3 kg), that is strenuous work.
As well as, the distant nature of photo voltaic websites makes it difficult for contractors to search out sufficient expert labor to fulfill the demand, mentioned the corporate.
Established in 1919, Rosendin is employee-owned and one of many largest electrical contractors within the U.S., using over 8,000 folks, with $3 billion in income. The San Jose, Calif.-based firm mentioned its clients “lead a number of the most complicated development initiatives in historical past and depend on us for our information, our skill to scale, and our dedication to high quality.”
The businesses extensively examined ULC’s robots at utility-scale photo voltaic development websites, leading to a robotic system able to manufacturing charges of beneath one minute per panel. In a 10-hour shift, ULC estimated that its robots and a two-person crew may set up 600 panels.
“Working with Rosendin’s use case, we designed and developed an answer that may revolutionize photo voltaic panel set up at large-scale websites,” mentioned Steve Inexperienced, vp of enterprise improvement for location and inspection at SPX Applied sciences, the father or mother firm of ULC. “Intensive area testing proved how the robots relieve heavy lifting from staff, supplementing their experience with a supportive software that helps shield staff whereas permitting them to be extra productive.”
Charlotte, N.C.-based SPX Applied sciences mentioned it’s a chief within the heating, air flow, and air-con (HVAC) and the detection and measurement markets. The firm, which acquired ULC in 2020, has about 3,100 staff in 15 nations.
