The objective of this activity is Implementation and validation of an in-situ solar cell test and measurements equipment in the automated manufacturing line of solar panels suppliers. 

Solar panel suppliers are developing a partially automated solar generator assembly process. A GSTP G617-241TA de-risk Activity: "Identification and baseline validation of solar cell test and measurement techniques for highly automated space solar generator manufacturing" was in the process to be completed, where measurement techniques have been identified and initially verified to be suitable to control the quality of the solar generator during automatic manufacturing. The present activity is aimed to implement those measurement techniques in an automated solar generator assembly manufacturing line. This automated in-situ quality process control will boost, in an innovative manner, the characterization capability, presumably reducing the total manufacturing cost. This technology can be partly or completely merchandised to solar generator manufacturers worldwide. In fact, quality assurance and process monitoring on solar cell level can be considered independent of the particular assembly technology in use, and can be applied to a variety of application scenarios.In particular the tasks that were planned to be done in the frame of this activity are the following:
Providing an integrated sensor head for the automated in-line process monitoring from bare cell to PVA.
Support of self-optimized process development through machine learning techniques.
Software development for fully automated data acquisition and analysis.
Sensor Head with HDR Vision (Presence, Dimensions, Alignment & Mechanical Integrity of all SCA-S component parts), Electrical Health (EL & PL of J1-JN) and 3D Vision (3D Inspection & Adhesive Gap Thickness Determination).
Evaluation and qualification of the novel sensor head against ECSS standard procedures.
 

Achievements and status: