FA-93586 / Solar tracker geometry / Open access
Torque-tube inclinometer rotation: magnitude window · case 01
Readings exactly at the plausibility bounds are reported as sensor faults.
ROOT CAUSE
The plausibility window excludes its bounds.
VERIFIED REPAIR
Accept magnitudes in [0.8, 1.2].
Unsuccessful approach: Checking only the upper bound accepts a disconnected sensor reading near zero g.
Case contract
ax (across-axis) and az (normal) are gravity components in g. The magnitude must be within [0.8, 1.2] g, else [None, 'fault']. Rotation = atan2(ax, az) in degrees, negated for a sensor mounted on the west side, then minus the calibration offset, normalised to (-180, 180]. Return [angle rounded 2, 'ok'].
Why this case matters
Single-axis and dual-axis solar trackers turn a sun direction into actuator commands; a sign, frame or limit mistake points a whole plant away from the sun or into a mechanical stop.
1 / The failure
Exit 1"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(ax, az, mount, offset):
mag = math.hypot(ax, az)
if not 0.8 < mag < 1.2:
return [None, 'fault']
ang = math.degrees(math.atan2(ax, az))
if mount == 'west':
ang = -ang
ang -= offset
ang = (ang + 180) % 360 - 180
if ang == -180:
ang = 180.0
return [round(ang, 2), 'ok']
def check(label, actual, expected):
observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [1.2, 0.0, 'west', 0], [-90.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.433, 0.25, 'east', 2], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [-1.1, 0.0, 'west', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [-0.4, 0.6928, 'east', 0], [None, 'fault']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [1.2, 0.0, 'west', 0], [-90.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.6928, 0.4, 'west', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [-0.7778, 0.7778, 'east', 0], [-45.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [0.5657, -0.5657, 'west', 2], [-137.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.0, -0.8, 'west', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.4, 0.6928, 'west', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.25, 0.433, 'west', 2], [None, 'fault']],
['control 2', [0.8485, -0.8485, 'west', -3], [-132.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.0, -1.2, 'west', -3], [-177.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [0.6928, 0.4, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.5657, -0.5657, 'east', -3], [138.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [-0.6, 1.0392, 'east', 0], [-30.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.8, 0.0, 'west', -3], [-87.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [0.3536, -0.3536, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.6928, 0.4, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 2', [-0.55, 0.9526, 'east', 2], [-32.0, 'ok']]]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
| Boundary fixture | Actual | Expected | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| boundary: magnitude at lower bound | [None, 'fault'] | [0.0, 'ok'] | Failed |
| boundary: magnitude at upper bound | [None, 'fault'] | [90.0, 'ok'] | Failed |
| boundary: upside-down reading | [180.0, 'ok'] | [180.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| regression: magnitude window | [None, 'fault'] | [-90.0, 'ok'] | Failed |
| regression: magnitude window (partial repair) | [None, 'fault'] | [None, 'fault'] | Passed |
| control 1 | [90.0, 'ok'] | [90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| control 2 | [None, 'fault'] | [None, 'fault'] | Passed |
SHA-256 / 30c72d967eee7af4cc12686d88a2217c276894c3c840b63f59568b412a0485ee
2 / The unsuccessful fix
Exit 1"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(ax, az, mount, offset):
mag = math.hypot(ax, az)
if mag > 1.2:
return [None, 'fault']
ang = math.degrees(math.atan2(ax, az))
if mount == 'west':
ang = -ang
ang -= offset
ang = (ang + 180) % 360 - 180
if ang == -180:
ang = 180.0
return [round(ang, 2), 'ok']
def check(label, actual, expected):
observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [1.2, 0.0, 'west', 0], [-90.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.433, 0.25, 'east', 2], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [-1.1, 0.0, 'west', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [-0.4, 0.6928, 'east', 0], [None, 'fault']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [1.2, 0.0, 'west', 0], [-90.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.6928, 0.4, 'west', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [-0.7778, 0.7778, 'east', 0], [-45.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [0.5657, -0.5657, 'west', 2], [-137.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.0, -0.8, 'west', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.4, 0.6928, 'west', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.25, 0.433, 'west', 2], [None, 'fault']],
['control 2', [0.8485, -0.8485, 'west', -3], [-132.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.0, -1.2, 'west', -3], [-177.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [0.6928, 0.4, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.5657, -0.5657, 'east', -3], [138.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [-0.6, 1.0392, 'east', 0], [-30.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.8, 0.0, 'west', -3], [-87.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [0.3536, -0.3536, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.6928, 0.4, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 2', [-0.55, 0.9526, 'east', 2], [-32.0, 'ok']]]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
| Boundary fixture | Actual | Expected | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| boundary: magnitude at lower bound | [0.0, 'ok'] | [0.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| boundary: magnitude at upper bound | [90.0, 'ok'] | [90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| boundary: upside-down reading | [180.0, 'ok'] | [180.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| regression: magnitude window | [-90.0, 'ok'] | [-90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| regression: magnitude window (partial repair) | [-62.0, 'ok'] | [None, 'fault'] | Failed |
| control 1 | [90.0, 'ok'] | [90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| control 2 | [-30.0, 'ok'] | [None, 'fault'] | Failed |
SHA-256 / cc191f322eb0a60fe09b57826b3c3901b7197365482e1e698b40d34be54e419a
3 / The verified repair
Exit 0"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(ax, az, mount, offset):
mag = math.hypot(ax, az)
if not 0.8 <= mag <= 1.2:
return [None, 'fault']
ang = math.degrees(math.atan2(ax, az))
if mount == 'west':
ang = -ang
ang -= offset
ang = (ang + 180) % 360 - 180
if ang == -180:
ang = 180.0
return [round(ang, 2), 'ok']
def check(label, actual, expected):
observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [1.2, 0.0, 'west', 0], [-90.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.433, 0.25, 'east', 2], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [-1.1, 0.0, 'west', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [-0.4, 0.6928, 'east', 0], [None, 'fault']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [1.2, 0.0, 'west', 0], [-90.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.6928, 0.4, 'west', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [-0.7778, 0.7778, 'east', 0], [-45.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [0.5657, -0.5657, 'west', 2], [-137.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.0, -0.8, 'west', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [-0.4, 0.6928, 'west', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.25, 0.433, 'west', 2], [None, 'fault']],
['control 2', [0.8485, -0.8485, 'west', -3], [-132.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.0, -1.2, 'west', -3], [-177.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [0.6928, 0.4, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.5657, -0.5657, 'east', -3], [138.0, 'ok']],
['control 2', [-0.6, 1.0392, 'east', 0], [-30.0, 'ok']]],
[['boundary: magnitude at lower bound', [0.0, 0.8, 'east', 0], [0.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: magnitude at upper bound', [1.2, 0.0, 'east', 0], [90.0, 'ok']],
['boundary: upside-down reading', [0.0, -1.0, 'east', 0], [180.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window', [0.8, 0.0, 'west', -3], [-87.0, 'ok']],
['regression: magnitude window (partial repair)', [0.3536, -0.3536, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 1', [0.6928, 0.4, 'east', 5], [None, 'fault']],
['control 2', [-0.55, 0.9526, 'east', 2], [-32.0, 'ok']]]]
for label, args, expected in fixtures[N-1]:
check(label, solve(*args), expected)
print(json.dumps({"observations": observations, "passed": all(x["passed"] for x in observations)}, ensure_ascii=False))
raise SystemExit(0 if all(x["passed"] for x in observations) else 1)
| Boundary fixture | Actual | Expected | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| boundary: magnitude at lower bound | [0.0, 'ok'] | [0.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| boundary: magnitude at upper bound | [90.0, 'ok'] | [90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| boundary: upside-down reading | [180.0, 'ok'] | [180.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| regression: magnitude window | [-90.0, 'ok'] | [-90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| regression: magnitude window (partial repair) | [None, 'fault'] | [None, 'fault'] | Passed |
| control 1 | [90.0, 'ok'] | [90.0, 'ok'] | Passed |
| control 2 | [None, 'fault'] | [None, 'fault'] | Passed |
SHA-256 / d64fdcba4ae0a41132c828318fd5c3291dab2cc738604359de44f5060219b2a6
Verification & scope
Deterministic stipulated toy contract for teaching; no claim of conformance with any standard, vendor protocol or production controller. This reproducer isolates one failure mechanism. Results cover the supplied fixtures. Variants within a family share a test contract and should remain grouped when constructing evaluation splits. Related mechanisms with a shared evaluation_group must also remain together; these controlled models are not independent production incidents.
Observations recorded using Python 3.12.14 at 2026-09-29T14:51:56.444973+00:00.
Case digest / cd4531cf4f5ad25507134474cb93fe7a7073641029dc338d788f0320a986c62b