Thesis (S.B.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering, 2013.Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.Includes bibliographical references (page 26).This thesis documents my personal contribution to the development of a hydraulic-based actuation system for a solar trough collector. The goal of this project was to design the actuation system using hydraulic actuators for a four meter solar collector prototype in Pittsfield, New Hampshire. After considering several hydraulic system architectures and conducting in-depth analysis into two of them, the idler pulley scheme was chosen. This mechanism uses a double rod end hydraulic actuator connected to wire rope wrapped around a capstan drum and an idler pulley. The model was optimized for mechanical performance, and it is expected to be a more cost effective option than the existing actuation system in New Hampshire once the controls equipment required to actuate the hydraulic cylinders for the new design is specified.by Juan Felipe Carrillo.S.B
