Patent ID: 7887188

Claim:
A heliostat for the collection of electromagnetic energy while resting on a surface, comprising: a rigid disk having an exposed surface, a back surface, and a circular peripheral edge connecting the exposed surface to the back surface, the peripheral edge including a plurality of wheels each having a rotational axis substantially tangent to the circular peripheral edge of the disk, at least two of such wheels driven by an electric motor electrically connected to a power source fixed to the disk; a hollow, substantially transparent spherical enclosure containing the rigid disk, each wheel of the disk frictionally engaging an inner surface of the enclosure such that rotation of the any of the wheels changes the orientation of the disk within the enclosure; a control circuit electrically disposed between the power source and each motor, the control circuit including a direction setting means for causing the motors to orient the exposed surface towards a commanded direction; and a rigid frame for supporting the enclosure and disk on the surface.