Two Axes Automatic Solar Panel Sun Tracking System For Supplying Power To Mine Detection Robot

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Eng., Department of Industrial Electronics Engineering Faculty of Electronic Eng., Menoufia University.

2 Prof. Dr. Eng., Department of Electrical Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering, Ain shams University.

3 Prof. Dr. Eng., Department of Industrial Electronics Engineering Faculty of Electronic Eng., Menoufia University.

Abstract

This paper presents a two axes automatic solar panel tracking system installed on an automated mine detection robot to supply the robot with electrical energy. The tracking system is controlled using a microcontroller programmed with astronomical algorith to keep the solar panel at right angle with the incident sunrays, in order to improve the performance and to maximize the output power of the solar panel delivered all over the day hours and during the robot’s motion in the field. Tracking system mechanism is rotated around two axes, tracing the sun angles from the sunrise to the sunset. The new positioning tracking system includes one photovoltaic (PV) panel of 90-watt output power. A liquid capacitive inclinometer chip is used for measuring the tilt angle of the solar panel with respect to ground and robot’s inclined angle within 0 to 90 degree range. Electronic compass issued for adjusting the azimuth solar angle direction for any movement of the robot on the ground. A PWM controlled DC-DC charge controller Boost converter is used along with the automatic tracking system for enhancing the solar panel’s output power under variable insolation conditions. Control of the overall
system has implemented using PIC 18F452 microcontroller circuit. Practical results show the superiority of the illustrated design.

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