Dual Tilt and Pitched Rooftop Systems

For thermal rooftop inspections with West-facing solar modules, or non-flat rooftops, inspections should occur slightly after solar noon to ensure all modules have received adequate solar radiation.

See this video on how to adjust gimbal pitch correctly.

For dual-tilt solar systems, the inspection should be conducted shortly after solar noon and maintain a nadir gimbal pitch throughout the flight. See the image below for an example of a dual-tilt solar system:

Trackers

Trackers enable panels to follow the sun throughout the day, optimizing the angle at which the panels receive solar radiation.

If you are flying a site with trackers, factor in the height of the trackers when calculating the correct altitude for the flight over such sites. This will ensure sufficient overlap.

As you fly, you’ll need to monitor the angle of the panels, as this angle will change over the course of the day.

As the angle changes, use the gimbal to adjust the camera so that it continues to capture a full view of the modules: