Sun Tracking Solar Panel

Preface

This project was among numerous projects I supervised while working at Fleming College. These projects were integral to the students' program. However, they were not merely academic exercises; they were applied projects with real budgets and actual sponsors. Consequently, at the conclusion of these projects, which typically spanned two or three semesters, the sponsors would determine the project's success or failure based on the project requirements.

Introduction

This project was executed by my students, and my role was primarily to mentor them. I ensured that they delivered the project as per the sponsor's requirements while aligning their work with project management principles and methods.

Requirements

The task was to build a proof-of-concept solar panel that tracks the sun throughout the day to maximize efficiency, all within a modest budget of less than $1000.

Hardware

• 4 x Solar panels
• 2 x Servo motor
• 1 x Arduino Uno
• 4 x LDR
• Several Resistors
• MDF board

The project resembled a sunflower in its overall shape, albeit on a smaller scale. Regrettably, I do not have any pictures of the final product as I was traveling during their handover. However, it looked similar to the picture below (credits: Newlight energy¹)

Img1: The final product looked similar to this panel, credits: Newlight energy