SolaraVision

Schematic Diagram for Mono-axis Solar Panel
SolaraVision Logo
Testing for the Motor Vibrations
Working Image #1
Working Image #2
Photo of BikeShare Toronto with Panels Facing Away from the Sun

Inspiration

On the way back home from brainstorming, we saw a bike-share solar panel facing directly into the shade. As such, we naturally began wondering if there were any means of potentially preventing something like this from happening, and if so, what would that solution be?

What it does

SolaraVision is a company and product. On one hand, it provides users with an honest analysis of whether or not solar panels would be effective in their region. It also allows individuals to keep direct track of their solar panels, in terms of how they're functioning, their effectiveness, and how much battery capacity it has left. The product itself is a dual-axis solar panel system with small fans on every edge which go off at appropriate times to prevent dust from collecting.

How we built it

We created a circuit board model using an esp32 board, a DC motor, a water sensor, and a Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) also known as a photoresistor, to simulate how the solar panel will operate. The schematics of the circuit board wiring can be found attached. We’ve developed a code to rotate the motor depending on if light or rain is detected. If light is detected, the motor will rotate and reveal the hypothetical solar panel, but if rain is detected, the motor will rotate backwards and turn the hypothetical panel straight upwards, to protect the surface from rain and debris (during part of this sentence, play the video of the thing working). This simulates a single-axis panel, but the final product would use multiple motors and LDRs to create a double-axis panel

Challenges we ran into

Being a work-in-progress idea, one obvious issue is that such advanced solar panels will be costly. But we expect that advancements in materials and manufacturing procedures will reduce the costs of sun-tracking systems and thus make them accessible to a wider range of users. Another factor we’ve considered is that solar energy is best for sunny and seasonal climates, so it may not be the optimal energy source for cloudier regions. That’s why our app provides users with a cost-benefit analysis to ensure they are educated on whether a solar tracking system would be worth looking into based on their environment before installing anything. Our team has also thought about including suggestions in our app for other renewable energy options for users living in areas that may not get as much sunlight.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

We are relatively content with being able to conceive and execute the idea to the degree we did within the >72hr time limit for the Hackathon. We are also happy to have had such a wonderful experience with our first Hackathon, and are forever indebted to the wonderful team who made it possible :)

What we learned

We learned to apply and learn varied skill sets within an incredibly short amount of time, most notably using Figma. We also took time to learn the different functionalities of Arduinos and use the different tools available to us to make the prototype we wanted to the best extent possible.

What's next for SolaraVision

To further the prototype, we could work towards integrating the full functionalities, and to a larger scale. From conversations with experts in the field, implementing different technologies for ridding of particulate matter and such on top of the panels would be ideal.

Built With

Submitted to

The Climate Change-Makers Challenge: 2024

Created by

I spent most of my time working on the design aspect of the project- from learning and making the Figma, determining colour palette, editing the video, etc. I also worked on the script and helped narrow things down, as well as bettered my understanding of how Arduinos work. Overall, this was an incredibly valuable and insightful learning experience :)

Qazi Ayan
I worked to develop the code and build the prototype, utilizing my previous knowledge on mechatronics and Arduino. I also contributed towards research and writing the script.

Unaizah Qutub
I worked on the circuit model (prototype), concept design, and video script. I also learned how to use Figma for the first time and bettered my understanding of Arduino technology, so I found it to be a very valuable learning experience for me.

Tanisha Hossain
Raiyan Islam