Performance Enhancement of Photovoltaic Solar Panels by a Cleaning Robot Technique

Pujari Harish Kumar; N Chinna Alluraiah; Swetha Shekarappa G; K Harinath Reddy; Keerthana M

doi:10.5935/jetia.v12i59.3436

Authors

Pujari Harish Kumar Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Annamacharya University, Rajampet- 516126, Annamayya, India. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6580-9906 (unauthenticated)
N Chinna Alluraiah Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Alliance School of Applied Engineering, Alliance University, Bengaluru-562106, Karnataka, India. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-0722-6523 (unauthenticated)
Swetha Shekarappa G Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Alliance School of Applied Engineering, Alliance University, Bengaluru-562106, Karnataka, India. http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7518-8541 (unauthenticated)
K Harinath Reddy Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Annamacharya University, Rajampet- 516126, Annamayya, India. http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3102-3486 (unauthenticated)
Keerthana M Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Alliance School of Applied Engineering, Alliance University, Bengaluru-562106, Karnataka, India. https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9719-4743 (unauthenticated)

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5935/jetia.v12i59.3436

Abstract

This paper presents a comprehensive approach to integrating Arduino with a current sensor, voltage sensor, two motors, and a motor driver to monitor the output of a solar panel and control a cleaning bot. Interacting the current and voltage sensors with the Arduino allows continuous solar panel power output monitoring. The Arduino is the central control unit to collect data from the current and voltage sensors to monitor the solar panel's performance. Additionally, the same Arduino is used to control the cleaning bot, which is equipped with two motors and a brush-controlled motor driver for effective cleaning of the solar panel surface. Furthermore, the cleaning bot is designed to enhance the solar panel's efficiency by automatically removing dust and rubble using a brush. Additionally, the bot is equipped with a Node MCU, enabling seamless data transmission to a web server, and making it accessible for remote monitoring. An Internet Protocol (IP) camera is integrated to visually inspect the solar panel and the cleaning bot's activities to enhance the system surveillance capabilities.