{
  "abstract": "Solar tower plants require cost reduction in the solar field, which represents 30-50% of plant capital costs. This study investigates cable-driven heliostats as a lower-cost alternative to conventional gear-driven systems. A 1 m2 prototype using cables, stepper motors, and worm gearboxes was built and tested. Outdoor tracking tests measured mean errors of 15-16 milliradians, exceeding the one milliradian target required for CSP applications. The main problem occurred at a pitch angle of about 75 degrees, where the unequal cable tensions caused loss of control. When operated manually, without automated control, pointing accuracy improved to 1.6-4.7 milliradians, showing the control algorithm was the limiting factor. The prototype drive mechanism cost $431/m2, representing 70% of the total system cost. Cost projection for a 48.5m2 heliostat estimated that the drive mechanism could be reduced to $7.32/m2, compared to the $16.08/m2 for the Stellio heliostat. However, these estimates assume the technical problems can be solved.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "Stellenbosch University"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Rorisang Lekholoane"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0
      ],
      "name": "Craig McGregor"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1wkvmh8f7nnj6.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.3013",
  "fulltext_url": "https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/view/3013",
  "id": "1wkvmh8f7nnj6",
  "issns": [
    "2751-9899"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.3013",
  "language": "en",
  "licence": "CC-BY",
  "licence_label": "CC BY",
  "licence_source": "journal",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "lcc",
      "QC1-999"
    ],
    [
      "openalex",
      "2105|Solar Thermal and Photovoltaic Systems"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7223291007",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.tib-op.org/ojs/index.php/solarpaces/article/download/3013/3925",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-24",
  "publisher": "TIB Open Publishing",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1wkvmh8f7nnj6.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T13:44:39Z",
      "native_id": "4c0bb85c88a841eeb726149cf5eca841",
      "source": "doaj",
      "url": "https://doi.org/10.52825/solarpaces.v4i.3013"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "physics",
      "origin": "lcc:QC1-999",
      "subfield": "general"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Development and Testing of a Cable-Actuated Heliostat",
  "title_text": "Development and Testing of a Cable-Actuated Heliostat",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T13:44:39Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/1wkvmh8f7nnj6",
  "venue": "SolarPACES Conference Proceedings",
  "versions": []
}