A super-accurate electronic solar compass

ENEA has developed a device that determines the sun’s position thanks to an innovative optic system.
Its applications range from civil engineering to the alignment of solar panels, from archaeological surveys to the installation of airport radars.

ENEA has patented a compact, automatic, electronic solar compass more accurate than those currently existing, that can determine the sun’s position by means of an innovative optic system.

The device uses the equations regulating the apparent motion of the sun thanks to a simple yet accurate algorithm able to operate anywhere on the planet and provide the North-South direction with an accuracy of 1/60 degree.

Besides accurately determining direction, the device is compact, has a low manufacturing cost, comparable to that of low-end cell phones, it can operate automatically at any latitude, it allows fast detection and it’s insensitive to interferences from anomalous magnetic fields or ferromagnetic materials.

The device’s potential applications range from urban and archaeological surveys to civil engineering, from 3D reconstruction to the alignment of solar concentration and photovoltaic panels, from the installation of airport radars to guidance systems in robots and automated machines, from the orientation of movement systems on other planets to compass calibration.

In some applications, such as in the positioning of thermodynamic solar systems, the compass allows a very accurate mirrors orientation,  considerably simplifying installation procedures and cutting costs, since any variation in orientation with respect to the project is monitored by the compass and included in the calculation of the movement of the mirrors themselves.

In addition, in a plant using a significant number of  mirrors,   given the low cost of the ENEA’s device, it’s possible to install a compass on every mirror, avoiding the need to align the mirrors perfectly and provide them with an autonomous movement system.

The next step is going to be a solar compass able to operate also on mobile vehicles, that will give access to the naval and aeronautical markets.

For more information please contact:

Francesco Flora, francesco.flora@enea.it, Patent no. RM2012A000664