A solar tracker system including a tracker apparatus including a plurality of solar modules, each of the solar modules being spatially configured to face in a normal manner in an on sun position in an incident direction of electromagnetic radiation derived from the sun, wherein the solar modules include a plurality of PV strings, and a tracker controller. The tracker controller includes a processor, a memory, a power supply configured to provide power to the tracker controller, a plurality of power inputs configured to receive a plurality of currents from the plurality of PV strings, a current sensing unit configured to individually monitor the plurality of currents, a DC-DC power converter configured to receive the plurality of power inputs powered from the plurality of PV strings to supply power to the power supply, and a motor controller, wherein the tracker controller is configured to track the sun position.

An angle-sensitive pixel (ASP) device that uses the Talbot effect to detect the local intensity and incident angle of light includes a phase grating disposed above a photodiode assembly or a phase grating disposed above an analyzer grating that is disposed above a photodiode assembly. When illuminated by a plane wave, the upper grating generates a self-image at a selected Talbot depth. Several such structures, tuned to different incident angles, are sufficient to extract local incident angle and intensity. Arrays of such structures are sufficient to localize light sources in three dimensions without any additional optics.

An angle-sensitive pixel (ASP) device that uses the Talbot effect to detect the local intensity and incident angle of light includes a phase grating disposed above a photodiode assembly or a phase grating disposed above an analyzer grating that is disposed above a photodiode assembly. When illuminated by a plane wave, the upper grating generates a self-image at a selected Talbot depth. Several such structures, tuned to different incident angles, are sufficient to extract local incident angle and intensity. Arrays of such structures are sufficient to localize light sources in three dimensions without any additional optics.

A system for detecting and tracking one or more of direction, orientation and position of one or more light sources includes one or more optical fiber sensors configured to receive light from the one or more light sources and to generate a plurality of cones of light according to relative positions of the one or more optical fiber sensors relative to the one or more light sources. The system includes light data processing circuitry configured to detect characteristics of the plurality of cones of light and to determine one or more of direction, orientation, or position of the one or more light sources relative to the one or more optical fibers.

A system for detecting and tracking one or more of direction, orientation and position of one or more light sources includes one or more optical fiber sensors configured to receive light from the one or more light sources and to generate a plurality of cones of light according to relative positions of the one or more optical fiber sensors relative to the one or more light sources. The system includes light data processing circuitry configured to detect characteristics of the plurality of cones of light and to determine one or more of direction, orientation, or position of the one or more light sources relative to the one or more optical fibers.

Inter-vehicle signaling is essential for cooperative collision mitigation. Disclosed are systems and methods for autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles to identify each other, localize each other, and then cooperate in avoiding a collision if avoidable, and minimizing the harm of the collision if not avoidable. Examples include simultaneous wireless and infrared signals that enable other vehicles to specifically identify each cooperating vehicle, so that an evasion strategy can be developed. Additionally, the signaling can include, in the wireless messages or the infrared signals, or both, the wireless address of the transmitting vehicle, thereby enabling unicast communication and greatly improved coordination thereafter. This system will save lives.

A marking for position determination. The marking includes an indicator surface which is arranged at least partially in a first plane and on which a large number of different indicators is arranged, and a viewing area which is arranged in a second plane located in front of the first plane in an intended viewing direction and which is configured in such a way that it defines a viewing point through which the indicator surface in the first plane is to be viewed in order to read an indicator from the large number of different indicators. An associated camera system and an associated positioning system are also described.

A marking for position determination. The marking includes an indicator surface which is arranged at least partially in a first plane and on which a large number of different indicators is arranged, and a viewing area which is arranged in a second plane located in front of the first plane in an intended viewing direction and which is configured in such a way that it defines a viewing point through which the indicator surface in the first plane is to be viewed in order to read an indicator from the large number of different indicators. An associated camera system and an associated positioning system are also described.

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for accurately measuring an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of mid-infrared laser light. The device includes a laser, an atomic gas cell, a filter, a displacement platform, and a beam mass spectrometer. Pump light generated by the laser enters the atomic gas cell along an optical axis which is a Z-axis for a spontaneous frequency conversion process, and a generated reference beam enters the beam mass spectrometer through the filter; target mid-infrared laser light and the pump light intersect in the atomic gas cell to induce a second frequency conversion process, and a generated beam to be measured enters the beam mass spectrometer through the filter; and the beam mass spectrometer is arranged on the displacement platform and simultaneously detect spot images of the reference beam and the beam to be measured at different positions, respectively.

The present disclosure relates to a device and method for accurately measuring an azimuth angle and an elevation angle of mid-infrared laser light. The device includes a laser, an atomic gas cell, a filter, a displacement platform, and a beam mass spectrometer. Pump light generated by the laser enters the atomic gas cell along an optical axis which is a Z-axis for a spontaneous frequency conversion process, and a generated reference beam enters the beam mass spectrometer through the filter; target mid-infrared laser light and the pump light intersect in the atomic gas cell to induce a second frequency conversion process, and a generated beam to be measured enters the beam mass spectrometer through the filter; and the beam mass spectrometer is arranged on the displacement platform and simultaneously detect spot images of the reference beam and the beam to be measured at different positions, respectively.