21–30 of 151 posts
He "discovered" the Fibonacci sequence in how trees branch? Seriously? Maybe I'm just being a grumpy old guy here, but when I was in school this was in our math textbooks as an example of how the Fibonacci sequence appears in nature.
The comparison is against a flat row of cells that do not track the sun. I suspect that it will not do better compared to an array of cells that do track the sun. Basically the tree of cells are arranged in different angles so that as the sun moves some of them will always be receiving optimal sunlight when their normal is parallel with that of the incident light. Very nice insight, especially for a kid his age. I ce…
Earlier quoted context omitted.
Now I don't disagree that an array of cells that track the sun would produce better results, but it would be fair to assume that this would cost energy. Keeping that in mind, do you think it would still provide better results?
I'm not an expert here, but it's pointless to make tracking sun panels that costs a lot more if the outcome wasn't that great, I bet tracking sunlight is still more efficient even after spending energy to move the panels, it makes no sense otherwise. The real benefit of this is that you get a cheap motionless panel that performs a lot better than the flat version, this is specially important in places like Africa whe…
The comparison is against a flat row of cells that do not track the sun. I suspect that it will not do better compared to an array of cells that do track the sun. Basically the tree of cells are arranged in different angles so that as the sun moves some of them will always be receiving optimal sunlight when their normal is parallel with that of the incident light. Very nice insight, especially for a kid his age. I ce…
Moving parts cost a lot though. There is a reason for trees not to have them.
The comparison is against a flat row of cells that do not track the sun. I suspect that it will not do better compared to an array of cells that do track the sun. Basically the tree of cells are arranged in different angles so that as the sun moves some of them will always be receiving optimal sunlight when their normal is parallel with that of the incident light. Very nice insight, especially for a kid his age. I ce…
Moving parts cost a lot though. There is a reason for trees not to have them.
I wonder if some genetic algorithm style testing of angles and placements could yield even more efficiency? Seems possible that nature hasn't yet hit optimal design in this area.
Cant get much better than millions of years of try and die I guess. Mother nature is pretty crazy! We should copy her work more often :)