This project proposes an IoT-Based Floating Dual-Axis Solar Sun Tracker designed to enhance solar energy generation by continuously aligning the solar panel with the sun’s position. The system uses Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs) to detect sunlight intensity and direction, enabling precise movement of the panel along both horizontal and vertical axes using two DC motors controlled through a motor driver. A PIC microcontroller acts as the central control unit, processing sensor inputs and controlling the tracking mechanism. Limit switches ensure safe mechanical movement, while a crystal oscillator and reset button provide stable and reliable system operation. The solar panel is connected to a charging circuit that charges a rechargeable battery for energy storage. Voltage and current sensors monitor the solar panel output, and a voltage sensor tracks battery voltage to ensure efficient power management. The system also measures environmental parameters such as temperature and humidity using a DHT11 sensor to analyze their effect on solar performance. In this system, LEDs are used as the primary load, which can be switched ON or OFF through the switch. Additionally, a water pump is integrated to pump the water on the solar panel surface to reduce temperature and remove dust, thereby improving panel efficiency which can be switched ON or OFF through the switch. An ESP8266 Wi-Fi module enables real-time data transmission to the ThingSpeak cloud platform, allowing remote monitoring of solar voltage, current, battery voltage, temperature, and humidity. The floating design allows installation on water bodies, improving cooling efficiency and optimizing land utilization. Overall, the system provides an automated, intelligent, and remotely monitored solar tracking solution that improves solar power generation efficiency and supports sustainable energy management.    

The main objectives of the project are:  

  To design a dual-axis solar tracking mechanism.

  To maximize solar energy output using LDR-based tracking.

  To implement battery charging and energy storage.

  To monitor voltage, current, temperature, and humidity.

  To integrate IoT for real-time cloud monitoring.

  To implement a water cooling and cleaning mechanism.

  To develop a floating platform for improved cooling and land optimization.  

The major building blocks of this project are:  

1. Charging Circuit.
2. Rechargeable Battery.
3. Solar Panel.
4. PIC Microcontroller.
5. Sun light Sensor to sense the sun direction.(LDRs)
6. Motorized mechanism to control the position of solar panel(DC motors with L293D driver)
7. Limit switches.
8. Voltage sensors.
9. Current Sensor.
10. DHT11 sensor:
11. ESP8266 WI-FI Module.
12. LEDs as load.
13. Water pump.

  Software’s used:  

1. PIC-C compiler for Embedded C programming.
2. PIC kit 2 programmer for dumping code into Microcontroller.
3. Express SCH for Circuit design.
4. IOT thingspeak technology.

 

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