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Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System

Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System. Ryan Courtney Senior Design II Advisor: Junkun Ma. Abstract. Design Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System Feedback Control Light Intensity Sensor Microcontroller (Arduino) Dual-Motor Setup Wireless Communication XBee Radio. Purpose.

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Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System

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  1. Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System Ryan Courtney Senior Design II Advisor: Junkun Ma

  2. Abstract • Design Dual-Axis Solar Tracking System • Feedback Control • Light Intensity Sensor • Microcontroller (Arduino) • Dual-Motor Setup • Wireless Communication • XBee Radio

  3. Purpose • Position a solar panel to receive maximum light intensity • Integrate wireless communication • Achieve positioning using two axis of freedom as opposed to one

  4. System Schematic

  5. Overview • Software • Arduino Programming Environment • Algorithm • Hardware • Light Sensor • Frame • Microcontroller • Wireless Modules • Motors and H-bridges • PWM to Analog • Low-Pass Filter Design

  6. Software • Arduino Programming Environment • Based on language known as Processing • Processing based on C++ • Allows for composition and troubleshooting of Arduino code known as “sketches” • www.arduino.cc

  7. Software • Algorithm • Broken into two major pieces • Sender • Receiver

  8. Sender Flow Diagram

  9. Sender Variables

  10. Sender Functions • Startup • Position at 45º angle • Initial Check • Average Sensors • Wireless Sender (Horizontal Motor) • Control Vertical • Control Horizontal • Check Dark (not for use indoors) • Delay (when balanced)

  11. Startup Function

  12. Position at 45º Angle

  13. Initial Check Function

  14. Average Sensors

  15. Wireless Sender • Sends numeric codes to wireless module for horizontal motor control

  16. Wireless Codes

  17. Control Vertical

  18. Control Horizontal

  19. Check Dark

  20. Delay/Hold

  21. Receiver Flow Diagram

  22. Receiver Variables

  23. Receiver Functions • Error Check • Main loop • Stop Horizontal Motor

  24. Error Check • Keeps motor at halt if no data is available • Ensures code sent is within the correct range • Returns code when correct

  25. Main Loop

  26. Stop Horizontal Motor

  27. Hardware • Light Sensor • Frame • Microcontroller • Wireless Modules • Motors and H-bridges • PWM to Analog • Low-Pass Filter Design

  28. Light Sensor • Use property of photoresistors • Layout in grid pattern • Use comparisons of resistors • Balance sensors on most intense light

  29. Frame • Use plywood for structure • Two degrees of freedom • Maximum vertical adjustment is 63º • Minimum vertical adjustment is 23º • Horizontal adjustment is 360º

  30. Microcontroller • Arduino Uno/Duemilanove (x2)

  31. Wireless Modules • Use Wireless Shield to snap to Arduino (top) • Use XBee radios snapped to wireless shields (bottom) • Wireless communication via serial commands

  32. Motors and H-Bridges • 24 VDC Slewing Drive motor for horizontal motion (top) • 12 VDC Linear Actuator with potentiometer feedback for vertical motion (bottom)

  33. Motors and H-Bridges • Sabertooth 2x25 (top) and 2x12 (bottom) used as H-Bridges • 0-5V input from microcontroller • 0-2.5V input signal for reverse • 2.5V for stop • 2.5-5V input signal for forward

  34. PWM to Analog • Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) is digital representation of analog signal in square wave form • Sabertooth H-Bridge cannot accept digital/PWM signal • Sabertooth H-Bridge can accept analog signal • Use low-pass filter to condition PWM signal to smooth analog signal

  35. Low-Pass Filter Design • 1 KΩ resistor • 1 uF capacitor • F = 1/2πRC to calculate Frequency of filter • Filter frequency is 15.9 Hz • Frequency is sufficient for the rate of change of the project

  36. Microcontroller to Motor Schematic

  37. Final System • Wireless communication between Arduinos • Dual-Axis movement • Tracks light intensity • Balance on most intense light

  38. Deliverables • Light Sensor (Single Component) • Control of Two Individual Motors • Wireless Communication • Single System • Source Code • Block Diagram

  39. Timeline

  40. Questions???

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