The drive program calculates the apparent azimuth and elevation of the sun, it generates the commanded position and it has acces to the indicated position. These three sets of information are used to determine the zone of avoidance around the sun. The area around the sun is divided into 9 zones. In order to determine the zones, a lower limit and a upper limit are calculated as a function of sun's position (+ and - radius in true angles) DELSLOW = DELS - RADIUS DELSHI = DELS + RADIUS and for azimuth DAZSLOW = DAZS - RADIUS* either COS(DELSLOW) OR COS(DELSHI) DAZSHI = DAZS + RADIUS* either COS(DELSLOW) OR COS(DELSHI) ZONES : 1-3 EL < DELSLOW 1: AZ < AZSLOW 2: AZSLOW < AZ < AZSHI 3: AZ > AZSHI ZONES : 4-6 DELSLOW < EL < DELSGI 4: AZ < AZSLOW 5: AZSLOW < AZ < AZSHI *** TROUBLE *** 6: AZ > AZSHI ZONES : 7-9 EL > DELSHI 7: AZ < AZSLOW 8: AZSLOW < AZ < AZSHI 9: AZ > AZSHI The current and the final position are zoned; transition between zones in which one of the coordinate remains higher/lower then the boundary are no problem. For the other transitions, at least one of the commanded positions has to be modified until a safe transition can be guaranteed. The choice of the transition path might be influenced by the restrictions imposed by the travel limits. Each time the drive program executes it goes through the zoning anew and thus is not strongly influenced by different rates in azimuth and elevation. Zone 5 is the zone of avoidance. If the indicated position is ever in there, it has to be backed out without crossing, and a severe alarm should be started. If the commanded position is in there, just modify the commanded position to go to the closest edge. When tracking (or drifting) it can occur that the motion of the sun brings the commanded/indicated position into zone 5 Transitions from zone 1: No problems into 1,2,3,4 and 7. For transitions into zone 6, in general the commanded elevation would be set to ELSLOW. This would start a transition into zone 2, with similar restictions into zone 3 and from there the final position can be reached without danger. If the sun's azimuth is > 180 degrees (thus setting) and the sun's elevation less than the radius of avoidance + a safety for travel limits etc, the transition should be forced around the sun going through zones 4,7,8 and 9. For transitions into zone 9 the following considerations occur: If there is a problem with the lower travel limit, use path 4,7,8 and then 9. If there is the similar problem with the upper travel limit, use 2,3,6 and then 9. The otherwise preferred route might be 2,3,6 and then 9, especially if the indicated azimuth is greater than the AZSLOW, otherwise the azimuth direction would have to be reversed. For transitions between 4 and 6: check the travel limit considerations as in 1. If the choice is free : If both elevations are smaller or larger than the suns elevation, use the route below ore above respectively. In both cases the commanded azimuth and elevation should be set to the corner from 2-1 or 2-7. If one selects the route above, and once one is above the elevation of the sun, the actual AZSLOW can be recalculated from the distance to the sun rather then the corner of the field.