In light of the inability of existing solar trackers to achieve fast and accurate 360°-tracking

the concept of spherical light-principle is proposed and a new sunlight tracking strategy based on the concept is given. The radiation intensity distribution of the paralleled sun’s rays on the detection spherical surface is analyzed. A new sunlight tracking mechanism based on the spherical light-principle is revealed. According to the physical characteristics of existing photosensitive materials

the designing method of the detection spherical structure is given. Further

the calculating method of the detection sphere radius is given based on the change range of sunlight elevation angle in a given area

the sensitivity of photosensitive materials and the sunlight tracking accuracy requirement. A mathematical model for sunlight elevation angle and azimuth tracking is then developed. Finally

using the sunlight angle data in Northwest China for model validation

the accuracy and correctness of the tracking strategy proposed is clear as day. This work is supported by Xinjiang Natural Science Foundation for Distinguished Young Scholars (No. 2014711005) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51367018).