FAILURE MAP
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FA-93751 / Solar tracker geometry / Open access

Module edge ground clearance limit: command clamp · case 01

Morning rotations dig the east edge into the ground.

Verified by executionVariant 1 · 7 checks per implementationDownload source bundle ↓JSON ↗

ROOT CAUSE

Only the positive rotation is clamped.

VERIFIED REPAIR

Clamp to [-amax, amax].

Unsuccessful approach: Clamping the absolute angle loses the rotation direction.

Case contract

Hub height h and module width w in mm. Maximum rotation keeps the low edge at least clear above flat ground: asin((h - clear)/(w/2)), 90 when that ratio >= 1, 0 when <= 0. The command is theta clamped to +-max. Reported clearance is h - (w/2)|sin cmd| minus the ground rise under the low edge, side*(w/2)cos(cmd)tan(slope), where side is the sign of cmd or, at 0, the sign of slope (>= 0 counts positive). Return [cmd rounded 3, clearance rounded 1].

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(theta, h, w, clear, slope):
    half = w / 2
    lim = (h - clear) / half
    if lim >= 1:
        amax = 90.0
    elif lim <= 0:
        amax = 0.0
    else:
        amax = math.degrees(math.asin(lim))
    cmd = min(amax, theta)
    r = math.radians(cmd)
    low = h - half * abs(math.sin(r))
    if cmd != 0:
        side = 1 if cmd > 0 else -1
    else:
        side = 1 if slope >= 0 else -1
    ground = side * half * math.cos(r) * math.tan(math.radians(slope))
    return [round(cmd, 3), round(low - ground, 1)]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-45, 1500, 2000, 1300, 8], [-11.537, 1437.7]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-45, 1200, 2384, 300, 0], [-45, 357.1]],
  ['control 1', [-45, 1200, 2384, 300, -10], [-45, 208.5]],
  ['control 2', [0, 1500, 1133, 2600, -10], [-0.0, 1400.1]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 1500, 1133, 1300, 0], [-20.674, 1300.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 2000, 2000, 300, -10], [-30, 1347.3]],
  ['control 1', [20, 2000, 2256, 500, -10], [20, 1801.1]],
  ['control 2', [0, 2500, 2000, 300, -5], [0, 2412.5]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 2000, 2256, 2600, 3], [-0.0, 1940.9]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 1500, 2256, 300, 0], [-30, 936.0]],
  ['control 1', [60, 2500, 1133, 1300, 8], [60, 1969.6]],
  ['control 2', [20, 1200, 2000, 1300, 3], [-0.0, 1147.6]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 1200, 4000, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 1500, 2384, 500, -5], [-30, 813.7]],
  ['control 1', [60, 2000, 1133, 2600, -5], [-0.0, 1950.4]],
  ['control 2', [45, 1200, 1133, 300, 3], [45, 778.4]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-45, 2500, 1133, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 2500.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-60, 2500, 2256, 300, -10], [-60, 1423.7]],
  ['control 1', [-30, 1500, 2384, 500, -5], [-30, 813.7]],
  ['control 2', [-30, 1200, 4000, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]]]]
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 fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
normal: rotation limited by clearance[60, 523.1][60, 523.1]Passed
boundary: hub below required clearance[0.0, 1200.0][-0.0, 1200.0]Passed
boundary: flat on sloped ground[0, 1412.5][0, 1412.5]Passed
regression: command clamp[-45, 892.3][-11.537, 1437.7]Failed
regression: command clamp (partial repair)[-45, 357.1][-45, 357.1]Passed
control 1[-45, 208.5][-45, 208.5]Passed
control 2[0.0, 1400.1][-0.0, 1400.1]Passed

SHA-256 / 6bc80bbc6394b964aa4069ec8c55387ea74d9e7e8c526ce2fba0f3250d416c7c

2 / The unsuccessful fix

Exit 1
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(theta, h, w, clear, slope):
    half = w / 2
    lim = (h - clear) / half
    if lim >= 1:
        amax = 90.0
    elif lim <= 0:
        amax = 0.0
    else:
        amax = math.degrees(math.asin(lim))
    cmd = min(amax, abs(theta))
    r = math.radians(cmd)
    low = h - half * abs(math.sin(r))
    if cmd != 0:
        side = 1 if cmd > 0 else -1
    else:
        side = 1 if slope >= 0 else -1
    ground = side * half * math.cos(r) * math.tan(math.radians(slope))
    return [round(cmd, 3), round(low - ground, 1)]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-45, 1500, 2000, 1300, 8], [-11.537, 1437.7]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-45, 1200, 2384, 300, 0], [-45, 357.1]],
  ['control 1', [-45, 1200, 2384, 300, -10], [-45, 208.5]],
  ['control 2', [0, 1500, 1133, 2600, -10], [-0.0, 1400.1]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 1500, 1133, 1300, 0], [-20.674, 1300.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 2000, 2000, 300, -10], [-30, 1347.3]],
  ['control 1', [20, 2000, 2256, 500, -10], [20, 1801.1]],
  ['control 2', [0, 2500, 2000, 300, -5], [0, 2412.5]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 2000, 2256, 2600, 3], [-0.0, 1940.9]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 1500, 2256, 300, 0], [-30, 936.0]],
  ['control 1', [60, 2500, 1133, 1300, 8], [60, 1969.6]],
  ['control 2', [20, 1200, 2000, 1300, 3], [-0.0, 1147.6]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 1200, 4000, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 1500, 2384, 500, -5], [-30, 813.7]],
  ['control 1', [60, 2000, 1133, 2600, -5], [-0.0, 1950.4]],
  ['control 2', [45, 1200, 1133, 300, 3], [45, 778.4]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-45, 2500, 1133, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 2500.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-60, 2500, 2256, 300, -10], [-60, 1423.7]],
  ['control 1', [-30, 1500, 2384, 500, -5], [-30, 813.7]],
  ['control 2', [-30, 1200, 4000, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]]]]
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 fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
normal: rotation limited by clearance[60, 523.1][60, 523.1]Passed
boundary: hub below required clearance[0.0, 1200.0][-0.0, 1200.0]Passed
boundary: flat on sloped ground[0, 1412.5][0, 1412.5]Passed
regression: command clamp[11.537, 1162.3][-11.537, 1437.7]Failed
regression: command clamp (partial repair)[45, 357.1][-45, 357.1]Failed
control 1[45, 505.7][-45, 208.5]Failed
control 2[0.0, 1400.1][-0.0, 1400.1]Passed

SHA-256 / f31786c64f976557b4cbc8ff1b932b42497c3d688f1c6c0e6c5e5c84a4af6b69

3 / The verified repair

Exit 0
"""Failure Map reference implementation. Python standard library only."""
import json
import math
N = 1
observations = []
def solve(theta, h, w, clear, slope):
    half = w / 2
    lim = (h - clear) / half
    if lim >= 1:
        amax = 90.0
    elif lim <= 0:
        amax = 0.0
    else:
        amax = math.degrees(math.asin(lim))
    cmd = max(-amax, min(amax, theta))
    r = math.radians(cmd)
    low = h - half * abs(math.sin(r))
    if cmd != 0:
        side = 1 if cmd > 0 else -1
    else:
        side = 1 if slope >= 0 else -1
    ground = side * half * math.cos(r) * math.tan(math.radians(slope))
    return [round(cmd, 3), round(low - ground, 1)]
def check(label, actual, expected):
    observations.append({"check": label, "actual": actual, "expected": expected, "passed": actual == expected})
fixtures = [[['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-45, 1500, 2000, 1300, 8], [-11.537, 1437.7]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-45, 1200, 2384, 300, 0], [-45, 357.1]],
  ['control 1', [-45, 1200, 2384, 300, -10], [-45, 208.5]],
  ['control 2', [0, 1500, 1133, 2600, -10], [-0.0, 1400.1]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 1500, 1133, 1300, 0], [-20.674, 1300.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 2000, 2000, 300, -10], [-30, 1347.3]],
  ['control 1', [20, 2000, 2256, 500, -10], [20, 1801.1]],
  ['control 2', [0, 2500, 2000, 300, -5], [0, 2412.5]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 2000, 2256, 2600, 3], [-0.0, 1940.9]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 1500, 2256, 300, 0], [-30, 936.0]],
  ['control 1', [60, 2500, 1133, 1300, 8], [60, 1969.6]],
  ['control 2', [20, 1200, 2000, 1300, 3], [-0.0, 1147.6]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-30, 1200, 4000, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-30, 1500, 2384, 500, -5], [-30, 813.7]],
  ['control 1', [60, 2000, 1133, 2600, -5], [-0.0, 1950.4]],
  ['control 2', [45, 1200, 1133, 300, 3], [45, 778.4]]],
 [['normal: rotation limited by clearance', [60, 1500, 2256, 500, 0], [60, 523.1]],
  ['boundary: hub below required clearance', [30, 1200, 2000, 1300, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]],
  ['boundary: flat on sloped ground', [0, 1500, 2000, 500, -5], [0, 1412.5]],
  ['regression: command clamp', [-45, 2500, 1133, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 2500.0]],
  ['regression: command clamp (partial repair)', [-60, 2500, 2256, 300, -10], [-60, 1423.7]],
  ['control 1', [-30, 1500, 2384, 500, -5], [-30, 813.7]],
  ['control 2', [-30, 1200, 4000, 2600, 0], [-0.0, 1200.0]]]]
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 fixtureActualExpectedOutcome
normal: rotation limited by clearance[60, 523.1][60, 523.1]Passed
boundary: hub below required clearance[-0.0, 1200.0][-0.0, 1200.0]Passed
boundary: flat on sloped ground[0, 1412.5][0, 1412.5]Passed
regression: command clamp[-11.537, 1437.7][-11.537, 1437.7]Passed
regression: command clamp (partial repair)[-45, 357.1][-45, 357.1]Passed
control 1[-45, 208.5][-45, 208.5]Passed
control 2[-0.0, 1400.1][-0.0, 1400.1]Passed

SHA-256 / 3c91fe91814e767e536007f8badbcb01f26d9902c7d8803a457a9eb55c249f89

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 2026-09-29T14:51:58.059934+00:00.

Case digest / a8c61dd8b2a13ebce522bb765dd384b9d68fade6be59ac1d2c52e7786d07ee43