As more grey nomads spend extended periods out in the bush, the growing demand for ever-improved power solutions has fuelled an avalanche of game-changing technological innovations.
It’s fair to say the advent of affordable solar power set-ups completely revolutionised the Big Lap for adventurous travellers … but it seems there’s always room for improvement.
The fixed nature of vehicle mounted panels tends to mean they aren’t able to maximise power input as the sun moves across the sky; and portable, standing panels can be just hard work for a poor old grey nomad who’s ready to slump in a campchair in the shade.
The solution?
A sun-tracking solar system specifically designed for the RV market!
The Heliotrope 1.0, a roof-mounted solar panel, automatically follows the sun. PICs: Roboteos
California-based robotic solutions company, Roboteos, has just introduced the Heliotrope 1.0, a two-axis rooftop-mounted, solar-tracking system.
It is able to determine the position of the sun relative to the vehicle, and automatically tilts a high-efficiency and lightweight 400W solar array toward the sun … sunrise to sunset.
A parallel robotic mounting system allows the panels to be tilted in two axes, and it can be stowed flat to the roof with a height of only 15 centimetres.
The company says this innovation increases the system’s energy output by up to 2.5 times, meaning that – without taking up any additional roof space – the 400W array can make the same energy per day as a 1kW array.
While the two axes of the Heliotrope 1.0 mean it is able to truly maximise the power it reaps from the sun, Roboteos also produces a single-axis version, Solotrope 1.0, which is significantly cheaper.
“This system still boasts huge energy gains over flat mounted panels – up to two times,” Roboteos co-founder, Tom Gacka, told the Grey Nomads. “It is also the same weight as traditional glass-fronted panels thanks to our lightweight solar panels, and leverages all the technology of our two-axis system at a more affordable price.”
He said Roboteos can also educate the user on which way to park their vehicle to maximise their solar energy capture if they have the flexibility on how to park their RV.
The Helitrope 1.0 is currently for sale at US $5,440. The Solotrope 1.0 is currently for sale at US $2,720.
The company says it is planning to offer its systems outside the US, but does not have an availability date quite yet.
“Australia would be a great location to take advantage of our technology,” said Mr Gacka. “And we hope to offer it there some time in the future.”
