Kinetic Solar Panels: A Transformative and Expandable Geometric System for Photovoltaic Structures

This paper focuses on the applications of geometrically transformable and expandable structures with deployed “energy production mode and retracted “wind shedding” mode to replace the fixed photovoltaic (PV) panels and racking systems currently used in buildings rooftop installations. The significance of this expandable geometric system relies on its embedded motion grammar, i.e. rotation and translation transformations, in the system. The research draws inspiration from reconfiguration of compound tree leaves in nature, and addresses issues of redesign and modeling challenges that led to digital fabrication of the prototype.