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Challenge

Build a Solar Tracker High-Wind and Dust-Stow Event Dispatcher

Correlate desert wind gust forecasts and dust sensor thresholds to schedule automated solar tracking stow modes. Minimize structural wind damage and soiling while maximizing morning generation recovery.

EngineeringHosted by Vera
Challenge brief

What you are building

The core problem, expected build, and operating context for this challenge.

Correlate desert wind gust forecasts and dust sensor thresholds to schedule automated solar tracking stow modes. Minimize structural wind damage and soiling while maximizing morning generation recovery.

Solar photovoltaic field operations managers and balance-of-system SCADA engineers

Ingest field anemometer data, dust storm alerts, and PV tracker current tilt angles.

Model aerodynamic uplift loads and potential soiling rates across array tables using PVLib routines.

Synthesize emergency tracker stow orientations balancing mechanical wind safety against dust accumulation.

Compile a SCADA tracker dispatch sequence and field crew alert notice for operations review.

Field wind hazard radar with tracker block tilt indicators and manual stow override buttons.

Use PVLib tracking and irradiance example modules fed with normalized synthetic anemometer gust data. Starter examples below are synthetic. They are not downloaded records.

PVLib solar modeling Applies PVLib solar tracking position algorithms and irradiance angles to evaluate generation loss during stow.

mastra-ai, pydantic-ai, pvlib, pandas. mastra-ai coordinates multi-step operational workflows and integrates event-driven telemetry triggers cleanly. Local or hosted LLM for structuring weather alert narratives and engineering sign-off sheets.

Submit runnable source, pinned dependencies, setup commands, a working interface, example outputs, and a recorded end-to-end demo. Include tests and an action log.

Triggers automatic stow commands when wind gusts exceed structural safety thresholds.

Selects optimal stow tilt angle to minimize particulate deposition during severe dust storms.

Calculates expected generation loss in megawatt-hours during the non-optimal stow tracking period.

Requires solar operations director verification before confirming automated tracker position changes.

```json [ { "input": { "block_id": "BLK-01", "wind_gust_mps": 14.5, "dust_pm10_ug_m3": 120, "current_tracker_tilt_deg": 35, "wind_direction_deg": 180 }, "expected_output": { "stow_required": false, "recommended_tilt_deg": 35, "mode": "STANDARD_TRACKING", "projected_loss_mwh": 0 } }, { "input": { "block_id": "BLK-02", "wind_gust_mps": 26.2, "dust_pm10_ug_m3": 850, "current_tracker_tilt_deg": 48, "wind_direction_deg": 270 }, "expected_output": { "stow_required": true, "recommended_tilt_deg": 0, "mode": "HIGH_WIND_DEFENSE_STOW", "projected_loss_mwh": 14.2 } } ] ```

All tracker repositioning instructions are generated in simulation; field physical overrides take precedence. Use mock external writes. Require human review before any real deployment.

Rules

Participation guide

All tracker repositioning instructions are generated in simulation; field physical overrides take precedence. Use mock external writes and human review.

Delivery guide

How work is evaluated

Evaluation

Triggers automatic stow commands when wind gusts exceed structural safety thresholds. Selects optimal stow tilt angle to minimize particulate deposition during severe dust storms. Calculates expected generation loss in megawatt-hours during the non-optimal stow tracking period. Requires solar operations director verification before confirming automated tracker position changes.

Submission format

Runnable source, pinned dependencies, setup commands, working interface, example outputs, recorded demo, tests, and action logs.

Datasets

Challenge datasets

Public datasets, plus the private datasets you have access to.

Evaluation rubric

How submissions are scored

These dimensions define what the evaluator checks and which criteria separate a passable run from a strong one.

Dimensions
4 scoring checks
Binary
1 pass or fail dimensions
Ordinal
3 scaled dimensions
Dimension 1

Complete workflow

Ingest field anemometer data, dust storm alerts, and PV tracker current tilt angles. Model aerodynamic uplift loads and potential soiling rates across array tables using PVLib routines. Synthesize emergency tracker stow orientations balancing mechanical wind safety against dust accumulation. Compile a SCADA tracker dispatch sequence and field crew alert notice for operations review.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 2

Correctness and evidence

Triggers automatic stow commands when wind gusts exceed structural safety thresholds. Selects optimal stow tilt angle to minimize particulate deposition during severe dust storms. Calculates expected generation loss in megawatt-hours during the non-optimal stow tracking period. Requires solar operations director verification before confirming automated tracker position changes.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 3

Review interface

Field wind hazard radar with tracker block tilt indicators and manual stow override buttons.

Score scale
012
Score 0

Missing or incorrect.

Score 1

Partly complete, with documented gaps.

Score 2

Complete, with reproducible evidence.

Dimension 4

Safe execution

All tracker repositioning instructions are generated in simulation; field physical overrides take precedence.

Binary check

This dimension contributes its full weight only when the submission satisfies the requirement. Partial credit is not awarded.

Learning goals

What you should walk away with

  • Ingest field anemometer data, dust storm alerts, and PV tracker current tilt angles.

  • Model aerodynamic uplift loads and potential soiling rates across array tables using PVLib routines.

  • Synthesize emergency tracker stow orientations balancing mechanical wind safety against dust accumulation.

  • Compile a SCADA tracker dispatch sequence and field crew alert notice for operations review.

Resources and assets

Reference links and supporting material

Dataset notes

Use PVLib tracking and irradiance example modules fed with normalized synthetic anemometer gust data. Supplied starter examples are synthetic, not source extracts.

Challenge setup

Configuration summary for this challenge.

Challenge input

Input details are not configured.

Mastra AI

TypeScript agent framework.

Evaluated output

No output checks are configured.

Evaluation checks
  • Ingest field anemometer data, dust storm alerts, and PV tracker current tilt angles. Model aerodynamic upli...
  • Triggers automatic stow commands when wind gusts exceed structural safety thresholds. Selects optimal stow...
  • Field wind hazard radar with tracker block tilt indicators and manual stow override buttons.
Configured evaluation evidence
  • 2 public reference cases
Configured runtime
  • 2 configured tools

Summary shows the first task, up to three tools, and up to three evidence items. Open the technical recipe to view all configured items.

View technical recipe

Configured tools

Action Space
  • Mastra AI · Optional
Orchestration
  • Mastra AI · Optional

Evaluation contract

  • Complete workflow · Weight 40
  • Correctness and evidence · Weight 30
  • Review interface · Weight 20
  • Safe execution · Weight 10

Reference cases

  • 2 public reference cases

Workflow tasks

No workflow tasks are configured.

Recipe freeze marker

No recipe freeze time is recorded.

Frequently Asked Questions about Build a Solar Tracker High-Wind and Dust-Stow Event Dispatcher