Description | Example | Return Message | Group

VO SolarPanel

To model the exposure of solar panels over a given time interval

Syntax

VO <ObjectPath> SolarPanel {CommandOption}

Description

The VO SolarPanel command enables you to model the exposure of vehicle-mounted solar panels over a given time interval, such as an orbit period. The result of the analysis can be used to determine varying availability of electrical power for operations to be performed by the spacecraft and onboard apparatus.

This command is valid for Satellite, Aircraft and Ground Vehicle objects.

{CommandOption} Description
Object {On | Off} <ToObjectPath> Specifies a candidate for obstructing sunlight directed at the subject vehicle's solar panels.
Visualization
  • Radius {On | Off} [<Radius>]
  • AddGroup {<Name> | AllGroups}
  • RemoveGroup {<Name> | AllGroups}
  • View {On | Off}
 Enter any or all of the options. The AddGroup and RemoveGroup options can be entered multiple times in one command.

Specify <Radius> in small distance units. Valid value is between 0.1 and 1000000.0 meters.

For AddGroup or RemoveGroup, specify the <Name> of a solar panel group, or enter AllGroups.

Set View On to show the 3D Solar Panel view window.
Compute {TimeInterval} <StepSize> [{ReportType} "<FilePath>" ["<ReportTime>"]] Calculates solar obscuration over the specified time interval, using the specified step size.

For valid {TimeInterval} values see Time Options.

{ReportType} "<FilePath>" displays data in a report or graph form. {ReportType} can be:

  • Power. The power captured by the solar panels at each time step, in the scenario power unit, and the solar intensity (ranging from zero to one).
  • Area. The area of the solar panels illuminated by the sun (in the scenario distance unit squared), the effective area (defined above) and the solar intensity at each time step.
  • Angles. For a selected time, and over a range of angles from 0 to 90 degrees, the area and effective area of the solar panels struck by solar rays at each angle in the range. If {ReportType} is Angles, enter a "<ReportTime>" for calculating the angle report. The "ReportTime" is in addition to the {TimeInterval}.

Note: If Visualization View is On and a Compute command is issued, the View is set to Off after the Compute command is completed.
DeleteData Deletes existing solar panel illumination data so that computer memory is restored once analysis is complete.

Use the Window3D command with the SetRenderMethod option to set off screen rendering. The view must be On before setting off screen rendering. The WindowID of the Window3D command must be the ID of the Solar Panel view. Use the VO_R MapID command to get the window ID of the Solar Panel View.

Example

VO */Satellite/ERS1 SolarPanel Object On Facility/Perth

VO */Satellite/ERS1 SolarPanel Visualization Radius On

VO */Satellite/ERS1 SolarPanel Compute "1 August 2002 20:00:00.00" "1 August 2002 22:00:00.00" 120 Angles "C:\stk\User\stkData\Files\solarpanel_angles.rpt" "1 August 2002 20:30:00.00"

Example

Use the following commands to set up and compute a Solar Panel exposure using off screen rendering.

VO */Satellite/ISS-01 SolarPanel Visualization Radius On 60 AddGroup 2B_R_1 AddGroup 2B_R_2 View On

Window3D * SetRenderMethod Method PBuffer WindowID 2

VO */Satellite/ISS-01 SolarPanel Compute "10 Dec 2001 00:00:00.000" "10 Dec 2001 04:00:00.000" 60 Area "C:/Report.txt"

ReturnMessage

If activated, Connect returns an acknowledgement message.

Group Membership

This command belongs to the following group(s):

Object Tools

VO

VO Objects

Version

10

STK Programming Interface 11.0.1