Sun Following Solar Panel

  Introduction and Aims There's a huge demand for renewable energy as of now, with climate change concerns and the depletion of fossil fuel, there's an urgent need for sustainable alternatives. Among these, solar power is a popular method to sustain clean to clean energy. However, traditional fixed solar panels often fall short in maximising energy capture, as their stationary nature prevents them from fully harnessing the sun’s energy throughout the day. Recognising this challenge, our team set out to develop a more efficient solution, a  dual-axis sun-following solar panel  that continuously adjusts its position to track the sun’s movement across the sky, optimising energy absorption in real-time. By dynamically adapting to both the horizontal and vertical shifts of the sun, our design significantly enhances energy output compared to conventional fixed panels. In today’s world, where energy efficiency is crucial for both economic and environmental sustainability, solar ...

  Meet The Team Rhufon Phillips- Project Manager      M y primary responsibilities include overseeing the project timeline, coordinating team efforts,  and troubleshooting any challenges that arise. I chose this role because I enjoy organising and leading a team toward a shared goal, and I thrive in problem solving scenarios. My strong communication skills, ability to stay focused under pressure make's me well suited for this position, allowing me to keep our project on track and ensure its success. Hussain Al-Khuzaei- Designer  As the designer for our Dual Axis Solar Tracker project, i'm responsible for creating the system's overall design, including the circuitry, coding, and structural framework. I ensures that all components work together seamlessly to achieve efficient sun tracking. I chose this role because of my strong technical skills, attention to detail, problem-solving abilities. Shahad Alqallaf- Technical Writer Im r esponsible for documenting t...

 

  Week 4: Mission Accomplished This week marked a significant milestone in our project as we successfully completed the construction of our dual-axis sun-following solar panel. With the physical build finalized, the system is now fully assembled and ready for the upcoming bench inspection. The entire construction process went smoothly, with no unexpected issues or setbacks, allowing us to stay on track with our timeline. Now that the building phase is complete, our focus shifts toward finalizing the supporting materials, including the project poster, blog, and presentation. These elements will be crucial in effectively communicating our work and ensuring we are well-prepared for the bench inspection. Over the coming days, we will review every aspect of the project to guarantee that we are ready to present it confidently and demonstrate its functionality.

  Week 3: Powering Ahead Week 3 of our dual-axis sun-following solar panel project marked a significant milestone in our development. This week, we made notable progress as we began construction of the system and are now in the final stages, with only fine-tuning left to complete. Alongside the hardware development, we also started working on the poster and blog in preparation for the upcoming bench inspection in Week 5. This has allowed us to document our progress and ensure all aspects of the project are well-presented. The week's lab session proceeded smoothly overall, despite encountering a setback when our 3D-printed model broke during testing. However, by working together as a team, we quickly identified a temporary solution that allowed us to continue. Since then, we have successfully rebuilt and replaced the broken component, demonstrating our ability to problem-solve and adapt to challenges. Although we made considerable progress, we haven't yet managed to get the pro...

   Week 2:  Fine-Tuning As we continue developing our dual-axis sun-following solar panel, Week 2 has primarily focused on finalising the project’s coding and 3D printing design. Since our components have yet to arrive, we took this time to ensure that our code is fully functional, optimising it to precisely track the sun’s movement. Additionally, we refined our 3D printing design, ensuring it meets all necessary structural and mechanical requirements for seamless integration with our components once they arrive. Despite the delay in component delivery limiting our hands-on work, we used this opportunity to carefully plan the next steps. We discussed and strategised our approach for the upcoming weeks, ensuring we are well-prepared to proceed efficiently once we receive the necessary parts. Looking ahead, we hope to begin the physical construction of the solar tracker next week while also working on our project poster and blog. Additionally, we will start preparing for th...

  Week 1: Laying The Foundation The first week of our  Dual Axis Sun-Following Solar Panel  project was all about planning and preparation. We finalised our design, ensuring that all technical aspects were well thought out and feasible for implementation. With the design locked in, we moved forward by ordering the necessary components, a crucial step in setting the project into motion. To maximise efficiency, we also divided tasks among team members, assigning specific responsibilities to streamline progress once the parts arrive.  However, we are facing some uncertainties regarding the delivery timeline of our components. Delays in shipping could slow our progress even more, and there is also the risk of receiving incorrect or missing parts, which may require reordering and further adjustments to our schedule. To mitigate these risks, our plan is to begin assembling and testing as soon as the components arrive. The first step will be to verify that all received part...