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Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

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Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#61

Post by eek2121 »

newyankee wrote: post #60
ncmncm wrote: post #57

I wonder to what degree construction of solar farms over pasture could be automated. It seems like an easy competitive advantage over single-use: there is already revenue on the parcel, grass yield is increased because of reduced heat stress, evaporation is reduced, and generation efficiency is higher. Maybe combined with water collection, cutting erosion? Sharing with row crops seems like the next level, where you p…

It seems like if the soil profile and ground is mapped correctly it could be a much easier operation than one may feel.

You could even have robots do the mapping.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#62

Post by newyankee »

justicz wrote: post #26
atlasunshrugged wrote: post #25

This is super cool! I'm curious how much of a problem the policy side of things is here? My impression is that some of these projects fail because of NIMBYism and long lawsuits over land use and the like (despite the net positive climate impact).

This definitely comes up. Some communities are more receptive to solar than others, and it is important that the local community buys into a project before it gets built. We've definitely passed by signs in the lawns of local residents unhappy about the project being built next door. We are fortunate in that those sorts of problems are actually largely the responsibility of the solar project developer, whose job it i…

Unlike Wind I do not understand who in their right mind opposes solar projects. It is mostly a static piece of flat construction with hardly any rise sitting on private land.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#63

Post by newyankee »

justicz wrote: post #36
dmead wrote: post #32

Should we do this? My understanding is that solar installation is the next (semi?) skilled labor that could potentially be careers for many people. It doesn't seem to be the most socially stable thing to cut out humans from this job market before it really booms.

It's a good question. When you look at why utility-scale solar construction isn't happening fast enough, you quickly find that there are fundamental scaling problems associated with getting hundreds of people to very remote construction sites every day for the duration of a project -- and these problems get worse as the sites get larger and more remote. While our robots will reduce the number of people required to bu…

Weirdly one of the reasons for rapid growth of solar in India was the widely available cheap semi skilled labor. The stringent regulations in US and elsewhere seems to make this a much bigger challenge i guess.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#64

Post by worik »

banks_h wrote: post #53
mrraj wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“Fortunately with an autonomous system there's no logistical overhead” It might be too early to tell. Those telehandlers and skidsteers are almost always rentals, so they get called off and picked up at the site. Moving heavy machinery is much more difficult than moving people, and all of your equipment is unique so it’s glued to that job site until it’s complete. Owning your own equipment presents its own set of cha…

Yes! Sorry I explained poorly above, I meant there isn't additional logistical overhead involved in stopping operations for a day for robots, whereas there's tons when workers are involved. You're dead on with regards to the logistics involved in operating this equipment on site, we'll absolutely be facing each of the challenges you mentioned.

> I meant there isn't additional logistical overhead involved in stopping operations for a day for robots, whereas there's tons when workers are involved.

Time value of money. There is a lot of capital tied up in those machines. If they stop for a day there is no income from that capital.

Does not invalidate your point, but it blunts it

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#65

Post by banks_h »

krashidov wrote: post #51
marcell wrote: post #15

Is labor cost a significant obstacle to building solar farms? What % of initial capital goes to labor?

I'm more interested in what kind of possibilities this unlocks. Sure, labor might not be a huge cost in projects at present moment. But that might be because all projects today are happening in places where labor is cheap. What if this unlocks projects in more remote and harsher terrains?

We joke that Mars will be the easiest market for us to penetrate :)

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#66

Post by spieswl »

Very cool. Great to see fellow robotics starters on HN! How are you connecting the solar modules, electrically?

Also, I didn't see on your page anything about remote work. I understand why that might not be in the cards for robotics work, but is that the case for Charge?

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#67

Post by justicz »

spieswl wrote: post #66

Very cool. Great to see fellow robotics starters on HN! How are you connecting the solar modules, electrically? Also, I didn't see on your page anything about remote work. I understand why that might not be in the cards for robotics work, but is that the case for Charge?

> Great to see fellow robotics starters on HN!

Yes! We are excited every time we see a robotics company show up on HN :)

> How are you connecting the solar modules, electrically?

Right now we are focused on nailing mechanical installation, and are leaving electrical installation to a separate team of subcontractors. That said, we do want to tackle this problem in the future, and have some ideas on how to make the make the electrical connectors on solar modules more suitable for robotic manipulation. The standard PV connectors today are comically bad for handling by robots, dangling loosely from wires on the back of the module.

> Also, I didn't see on your page anything about remote work. I understand why that might not be in the cards for robotics work, but is that the case for Charge?

There's enough hands-on work involving the robot that we aren't quite ready to bring on full-time remote workers yet. As we grow, this is something we will become more open to.

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#69

Post by spieswl »

justicz wrote: post #67
spieswl wrote: post #66

Very cool. Great to see fellow robotics starters on HN! How are you connecting the solar modules, electrically? Also, I didn't see on your page anything about remote work. I understand why that might not be in the cards for robotics work, but is that the case for Charge?

> Great to see fellow robotics starters on HN! Yes! We are excited every time we see a robotics company show up on HN :) > How are you connecting the solar modules, electrically? Right now we are focused on nailing mechanical installation, and are leaving electrical installation to a separate team of subcontractors. That said, we do want to tackle this problem in the future, and have some ideas on how to make the mak…

> The standard PV connectors today are comically bad for handling by robots, dangling loosely from wires on the back of the module.

Yeah, I made some machines that attached those harnesses in a prior life. My condolences. ;)

> There's enough hands-on work involving the robot that we aren't quite ready to bring on full-time remote workers yet. As we grow, this is something we will become more open to.

Not unexpected, but still sad. That said, I love what you all are doing and will keep you in mind!

Re: Launch HN: Charge Robotics (YC S21) - Robots that build solar farms

#70

Post by lifeisstillgood »

Firstly this is what I call "field into factory" - robots have transformed the internal buildings environment but barely made any in-roads to the outside. I am not sure about this particular business case but this is the direction of travel for the future.

second, amazing stuff guys - keep on going!

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