Design and Performance of a Solar Panel Cleaning Robot.

Abstract

Solar energy, being one of the clean energy sources, plays a vital part in satisfying our planet's growing electrical energy demand. Many nations have created solar energy-based energy regulations in recent years, and academics have been working on solar panel efficiency, maximum energy extraction from the sun, control and power electronics. Solar panels transform the energy extracted from the sun into electrical power. Extraction of continuous maximum energy level from the sun decreases installation costs and allows meeting the required peak electrical power easier. Between the solar panel and the sun, physical circumstances such as muddy rain, snow, and dusting occur. This scenario leads to a lower amount of electrical power extraction than is physically possible with a clean solar panel surface. As a result, it is critical to maintain the solar panels and maximum power point tracking devices clean. A solar panel cleaning robot (SPCR) was created and tested in real time in this study. The developed crawler and dual-motor robot crawls horizontally, while the cleaning brush goes vertically. Furthermore, position switches can detect the length of the solar panel array to maintain the SPCR in the proper operating region.