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13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

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Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#31

Post by mleonhard »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #6

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.

I would guess that trees are optimal for their environments, which include lots of things that are not relevant to solar panel arrays. For example, trees grow and compete with other trees and plants for sunlight. Trees also have different structural constraints and structure cost/benefit ratios than solar panel arrays. Deciduous trees drop their leaves and hibernate through the winter, replacing them in spring. So I think you're right that nature's design isn't quite optimal for solar panel arrays, but it's a great source of inspiration. :)

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#32

Post by rorrr »

waterlesscloud wrote: post #6

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.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/lang/eng//id/450

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#33

Post by sjs »

MichaelApproved wrote: post #25
yxhuvud wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Moving parts cost a lot though. There is a reason for trees not to have them.

But sunflowers have moving parts and they track the sun beautifully.

Sunflowers don't stick around for dozens of years or more.

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#34

Post by Peaker »

guelo wrote: post #29
waterlesscloud wrote: post #6

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.

After 500 million years nature has tried a lot of designs.

There may be hidden variables or different fitness considerations that apply to nature/trees but not to solar panels.

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#35

Post by randomdata »

MichaelApproved wrote: post #25
yxhuvud wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Moving parts cost a lot though. There is a reason for trees not to have them.

But sunflowers have moving parts and they track the sun beautifully.

But the equipment starts to fail quite rapidly, especially when compared to a tree.

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#36

Post by pigbucket »

martinkallstrom wrote: post #26

Wait... so there is a reason trees look like that? This was awesome, all the more for being a discovery by a 13-year old kid.

Exactly. In fact, the guy didn't discover that trees branch according to the Fibonacci sequence (which was long known) but rather began his investigation by asking, Why the Fibonacci sequence? Then he hypothesized that it optimized the gathering of sunlight for photosynthesis. Then he tested the hypothesis with a new pv array.

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#37

Post by sliverstorm »

yxhuvud wrote: post #23
felipemnoa wrote: post #3

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.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ze8NV7cvW8k

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#38

Post by robinhouston »

Towards the end of his life, Alan Turing spent some time trying to explain Fibonacci phyllotaxis. http://user29459.vs.easily.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/...

I wonder if Aidan Dwyer is pleased by the thought that his scientific career is beginning where Turing’s left off. I would be, in his shoes.

Re: 13-Year-Old Makes Solar Power Breakthrough by Harnessing the Fibonacci Sequence

#40

Post by redthrowaway »

So perhaps this is a question that others have answered, but what springs to mind for me is: why? I get that trees that follow the Fibonacci sequence are more productive, but without an answer to why that is, it remains a bit of a kludge. I would love to see some explanation of why this configuration is optimal.
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