Single Axis Solar Tracker using PIC Microcontroller and Light Dependent Resistors

Single Axis Solar Tracker using PIC Microcontroller and Light Dependent Resistors | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Single Axis Solar Tracker using PIC Microcontroller and Light Dependent Resistors Sylvester Tirones This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4867016/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The use of renewable energy for electricity generation has become increasingly demanding in remote locations and off-grid areas around the globe. Harnessing renewable energy such as the solar radiation from the sun to produce electrical energy enables the decrease in the cost of the energy demands and at the same time, contributes to sustainability and mitigates global warming and its effect. Since sunlight is natural and abundant, focussing on the development of managing the harvesting of this energy is quite imperative. In this paper, we shall present a design that integrates the use of a solar photovoltaic system along with a simple single-axis solar tracking system that aims at improving the energy absorption by the solar panel by aligning the panel perpendicular to the sunlight. The simple design consists of multiple stationary LDRs used as sensors for sunlight detection assembled at a fixed position and a single rotational LDR attached to the movable solar panel to match the sun's position with the stationary LDRs. The results show that the proposed single-axis solar tracker presented in this paper is economical and can increase the power output of the solar PV panel. The model can be projected on a bigger scale and targets domestic electricity production in rural locations. Electrical Engineering solar tracker renewable energy microcontroller real-time light intensity high-level language light dependent resistor Figures Figure 1 Figure 2 Figure 3 Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 I. INTRODUCTION A system known as the solar tracker utilizes the angle of incidence on the surface of the solar PV panels and the sun’s rays through the use of its electro-mechanical mechanism, the stepper motor. It is responsible for minimizing the incident rays from the sun by calibrating the panel to be perpendicular as much as possible. Due to the demand posed by the system to manage RES, especially the harvesting and maximizing the sunlight and converting it into electrical energy, a solar tracking system is considered. Sunlight is only available during the day, and solar panels must be active during those periods. There are other factors as well that are affecting the solar panel efficiency and performance during the day; that is the sun’s intensity, cloud cover, heat build-up, and relative humidity. The power output of the solar has an impact on those factors, for example, an increase in the power output and solar energy collection is during the midday when the sun is at its highest or peak intensity. On a cloudy day, there is a decrease in the sunlight collection thus leading to less absorption of the sun's rays by the solar panels. Moreover, power output is reduced by 10 to 25 percent due to heat build-up when the temperature is higher causing semiconductors to increase their conductivity and reducing the magnitude of the electric field [ 1 ]. Finally, in terms of humidity, the performance of the panel decreases and less amount of power is produced when humidity penetrates the solar panel frame. It can also deteriorate the performance of the panel as well [ 1 ]. However, the solar tracking system is designed to increase the efficiency and performance of the solar PV panel by utilizing its orientation and decreasing the angle of incidence as much as possible. Apart from a dual-axis solar tracker, a single-axis exhibits functionality that enables the rotation in one direction only, either forward or reversed. Moreover, due to the difference in the weather pattern and shading upon the solar PV module at any time of the day, power saving is of note when dealing with a single-axis tracker. Dual-axis may exhibit rotation which may lead to more power consumption due to the difference in terms of dual directions sensing of sunlight that occurs during the day. However, careful assessment of the direction of sunrise and sunset needs to be taken into consideration, which allows proper setup for the solar PV profile. Therefore, the rotation would not be affected in other directions except in the single-axis direction. The performance of a photovoltaic (PV) system depends upon the orientation and the site's climatic conditions. Solar PV tracking systems align the modules perpendicular to the incoming solar radiation [ 2 ]. II. REQUIREMENTS/METHODOLOGY The main mechanism of the solar tracking system consists of the tracking device, tracking algorithm, control unit, positioning system, driving mechanism, and sensing devices [ 3 ]. The selection of the photovoltaic module and inverter is based on technology and commercial availability. The selection of a PV module is based on its maturity, commercial availability, performance, and reliability. Multi-crystalline silicone modules are known to last over 20 years with a typical cell efficiency of around 15%. The average yearly degradation of the PV module is 0.7% [ 2 ]. The orientation of the solar PV module can be discussed to establish a comprehensive method for the selection of the tracking phenomena. Figure 1 shows the different types of orientation that can be selected for the design. For this paper, we select the horizontal axis E-W PV tracker as shown in Fig. 1 (b). 2.1 Types of Solar Tracking Algorithms The tracking algorithm determines the angles which are used to determine the position of the solar tracker. There are two types of algorithms-astronomical algorithms and real-time light intensity algorithms. The astronomical algorithm is a purely mathematical algorithm based on astronomical references. The real-time light intensity algorithm is based on real-time light intensity readings. The control unit performs the tracking algorithm and manages the positioning system and the driving mechanism. The positioning system operates the tracking device to face the sun at the calculated angles. The positioning system can be electrical or hydraulic. The driving mechanism is responsible for moving the tracking device to the position determined by the positioning system. The sensing devices are a group of sensors and measurements that measure the ambient conditions, the light intensity in the case of real-time light intensity algorithms, and the tilt angle of the tracker utilizing an inclinometer or a combination of limit switches and motor encoder counts [ 3 ]. 2.2 Components This section features the electronics and mechanical components that are required to construct the single-axis solar tracker. Table 1 provides the major components used and their functional descriptions. Table 1 Functional component for designing single-axis solar tracker No Components Functional Descriptions 1 Light-dependent resistors (LDRs) Light intensity sensor uses LDRs as a sensing device for light for the design of the single-axis solar tracker 2 LM358 Operational amplifier Amplify and compute digital signal as input for MCU. It functions by comparing the two inverting input and produces a digital output for further computation in MCU 3 PIC16F877A MCU The MCU is the central controller that operates a single-axis solar tracking system 4 20x4 LCD Display interface for information on the position of the solar PV module and the state of light intensity 5 ULN2003 stepper motor driver Used to accurately control the movement of the stepper motor 6 74LS138 decoder Used to decode the bits for the position LEDs indications 7 Stepper motor Used to rotate the PV module. The stepper motor used for the model demonstration is 5V. 8 Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) Use to indicate the position of the PV module versus the active intensity location. 2.3 Programmer Microcontrollers are widely used for automation that can be easily embedded with algorithms in the form of programs. These programs can be used to execute instructions that are used to control the operations of a system. PIC microcontrollers (MCU) are widely used in applications that require automation and specific algorithms for the standalone operation of electronics. For the microcontrollers to fully function as hardware, it requires specific software or integrated development environment (IDE) that is responsible for flashing the instruction into the program memory of the microchip. The programming of the PIC16F877A microcontroller is shown in Fig. 2 . The programming software or IDE used in this experiment and prototype is the MikroC Pro for PIC. It uses high-level C + + programming language and is designed to be used with the PIC Kit 3 programmer. The PIC Kit 3 is shown in Fig. 2 . III. DESIGN This section provides the design mechanism of the single-axis solar tracking system. It is responsible for the positioning of the solar PV panel perpendicular to the direction of the sunlight. The single-axis solar tracking system utilizes seven (7) stationary positions each with 30˚ angle apart starting from east to west directions. The circuit diagram shows the PIC microcontroller (MCU) that is associated with sensing and controlling peripherals that operate the single-axis solar tracking system [ 5 ]. The discussion of the design presents four main scopes, which are as follows: 3.1 Control System The approach for the design of a single-axis solar tracker is achieved through a closed-loop control system. The solar tracker has a feedback system that enables the use of the signal from an LDR to be fed back to the controller. Figure 3 shows the feedback control system of the single-axis solar tracking system. 3.2 The circuit diagram The circuit diagram includes the necessary components required to facilitate the operation of the single-axis solar tracker. The block diagram design of the proposed single-axis solar tracker is shown in Fig. 4 . The PIC16F877A microcontroller consists of mainly 5 ports, from port A – E. PORTA contains 8 pins and is mostly used as analog pins of the microchip. PORTB – PORTD contains 8 pins and is used mostly as digital pins. As seen on the block diagram in Fig. 4 , PORTA is configured as an output port that provides control bits for the stepper motor driver, a rotational indicator (east or west direction), and a RES selector indicator (solar or other RES). PORTB is also configured as an output port which provides control bits for the decoder to perform indications of the position of the solar panel when at rest. PORTD is configured as an input port for stationary LDRs signals. External circuit design such as an LDR amplifier circuit is used to amplify the LDRs signals to the MCU and at the same time provides an intensity indication of the position that has a higher light intensity. PORTC is configured as an output port that connects the LCD for display. The connection of each peripherals corresponding to the ports and pins can be seen on the circuit diagram in Fig. 5 using the simulation approach. The detailed design is done using the Proteus design suite and is presented in section 3.3. It presents the schematic of the design for the overall circuit of the single-axis solar tracker. 3.3 Simulation The simulation is based on real-time – where the practical application can be seen in section 3.4. The Proteus Design Suite is a proprietary software tool suite used primarily for electronic design automation. The software is used mainly by electronic design engineers and technicians to create schematics and electronic prints for manufacturing printed circuit boards [ 6 ]. Figure 5 shows the schematic of the design. It comprises of functional components and is tested in real time using the proteus design simulator. The main components associated with the schematic are depicted in Table 1 , with their descriptions and purposes for use in the design of a single-axis solar tracker. The test simulation was carried out to ensure that the stability was maintained. The proteus software offers a remarkable simulation platform through which the single-axis solar tracker was tested. 3.4 Prototype The model in Fig. 6 is used to demonstrate the working of a single-axis solar tracker. It consists of three main components as labeled. The physical components used in the model are described in Table 2 with their functional descriptions. Table 2 Descriptions of the model components Solar Tracker Model Components No Physical Component Functionality 1 Solar PV Model (plastic board) Used as a demonstration in place of solar PV module. 2 Rotational LDR (SP_LDR) Attached to the solar PV module and to compute the equivalent bits with the SP_LDR while in rotation. 3 Stationary Position LDRs (SP_LDR[ 7 ]) Used to detect the position of the sunlight with higher intensity. IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS The single-axis solar tracker has the ability to monitor the light intensity of the sun. The result of the movement of the solar PV for the light intensity is generated experimentally using the prototype that has been designed. The results have proven that the angle of incidence can be reduced through the use of a solar tracker while power output can be maximized. Unlike a dual-axis solar tracker, a single-axis solar tracker has a minimum power requirement to only control a single stepper motor for rotational purposes and has 7 direct positions to align the PV panel. 4.1 Flow Chart The flow chart in Fig. 7 summarizes the operations of the solar tracker concerning the intensity and position of the panel. It portrays the design of programmable instruction sets and the result during the mode of operation. 4.2 Operation The sensing mechanism of the sunlight is through the use of LDRs, which is a sensor that has a resistance decrease ability when the sun hits the surface of it. On the other hand, the resistance increases when there is no sunlight detection. The sensor output is amplified to become the input to any MCU digital pins, and from there, further computational approaches are done. Upon the light intensity of any of the LDRs, the MCU sends a command signal to enable the rotation of the stepper motor to the direction of the sensors with the highest intensity. Stepper motor is termed due to its accuracy known as step angle and is used mostly in robotics and industries where accuracy is highly recommended. The command line in the controller executes the following operation as described by the flow chart. Initially, the controller will monitor the 7 stationary position LDRs (SP_LDR) {ID value 1 to 7 for stationary positions 1 to 7 respectively} which are mounted at a certain position and 30-degree angle apart from each other with initial position i = 0. If SP_LDR on position 1 has a higher intensity, then 1 > 0, so stepper motor will rotate the PV module in the right direction until the rotation LDR (R_LDR) on the PV module is equal to the SP_LDR at position 1 and the rotation will be stopped, thus and a new initial position is set (in that case is 1). If the solar PV panel is at rest at position 7, and there is a higher light intensity at position 1, then the computation (if 1 > 7) is false, the controller will send the signal to the stepper motor to rotate in the left direction until the R_LDR is equal to SP_LDR at position 1. All in all, through monitoring the initial position of the PV module, the operation, and the direction of the rotation depending on the light that triggers the SP_LDR. If the SP_LDR is greater than the initial position of the PV module, the rotation will be in the right direction. On the other hand, if the SP_LDR is less than the initial position of the PV module, the rotation is toward the left direction. The rotation will stop or is at rest when the LDR specified as the SP_LDR equals the R_LDR (specifically the bits). Variables such as the angle, intensity, and position are synchronized in the LCD for on-site monitoring. 4.3 Display The display circuit consists of a liquid crystal display (LCD) – which shows the angle, position, and mode of rotation of the solar panel, the indicator of the position of the light intensity corresponding to the 7 stationary LDRs, the position of the solar panel corresponding to the rotational LDR. Figure 8 shows the display panel of the single-axis solar tracker and its operation. The printed circuit board (PCB) was designed using the schematic in section 3.3. The performance of the PCB along with the status update for the positioning of the solar panel was greatly achieved. The prototype model in Fig. 6 works such that by shining a light (torch) along each of the stationary LDRs, the steeper motor turns to align the plastic board (solar PV model) and the rotational LDR. The information on the rotation and the direction, as well as the intensity, are well presented and displayed on the display panel as seen in Fig. 8 . V. CONCLUSION The simple solar tracker present in this paper serves as a guide in implementing a reliable and cost-effective system for governing the sunlight that can be used in electricity production. The integration of multiple stationary LDRs along with a single movable LDR provides precise monitoring of the sun's radiation. Most advancement in solar energy harvesting is to utilize and enhance solar tracking mechanisms. This mechanism is therefore suitable for increasing the energy output of the solar panel. This horizontal single-axis solar tracker is fully functional during the daytime. The results present mainly focus on the deliverance of the tracking phenomena and how best will the system respond to the changes in the sunlight position during the day. The algorithm embedded in the PIC microcontroller as programs executes the entire operational description of the horizontal single-axis solar tracker. The program code is provided in the appendix section of this paper. It is successfully proven through the process of validation and testing using the simulation and the prototype. We assure by using the simple design, we can enlarge the prototype to cater to a huge application that requires more solar PV modules per installment. It can be portable to rural homes and domestic industries that target solar renewable energy for electric power production. Increasing the use of solar electricity and harvesting the maximum power production will greatly contribute to sustainability and mitigation of global warming and its effects. References Wiggins, N. (2016, July 10). [PDF] FACTORS AFFECTING SOLAR POWER PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY - Free Download PDF. SILO.TIPS. https://silo.tips/download/factors-affecting-solar-power-production-efficiency Alkaff, Saqaff & Shamdasani, Nikesh Haresh & Yun II, Go & Venkiteswaran, Dr. Vinod. (2019). A Study on Implementation of PV Tracking for Sites Proximate and Away from the Equator. Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability. 3. 10.1007/s41660-019-00086-7. Racharla, S., & Rajan, K. (2017). Solar tracking system – a review. International Journal of Sustainable Engineering , 10 (2), 72–81. https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2016.1267816 How to Use PICKit3 to Upload Code to PIC Microcontroller. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from https://microcontrollerslab.com/pickit3-up Sylvester Tirones, Raj Kumar, "Design of Microcontrollers Based Smart Battery Management System Enhancement for Off-Grid Remote Homes", International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Volume 13 Issue 4, April 2024, pp. 379-386, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR24330232016 Wikipedia contributors. (2023, December 16). Proteus Design Suite. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:30, July 24, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proteus_Design_Suite&oldid=1190185753 Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files APPENDIX.docx AUTHORPROFILE.docx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-4867016","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":336586392,"identity":"e32c7d75-56e4-46a8-95a8-4e5a2d5631ce","order_by":0,"name":"Sylvester Tirones","email":"data:image/png;base64,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","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0241-1590","institution":"Papua New Guinea University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Sylvester","middleName":"","lastName":"Tirones","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2024-08-06 08:49:24","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":true,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4867016/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4867016/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":61951079,"identity":"d57bc8af-01d7-4638-9223-bc89a7c06881","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-07 12:35:09","extension":"png","order_by":1,"title":"Figure 1","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":121589,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eIllustration of the PV tracker. 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5","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":48057,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eThe schematic diagram of the proposed single-axis solar tracker using Proteus [5]\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"5.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4867016/v1/466ddd8e55fb59adee32e1bf.png"},{"id":61950575,"identity":"2151a9bb-6c43-40dc-804c-635181546849","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-07 12:27:09","extension":"png","order_by":6,"title":"Figure 6","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"figure","size":449501,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"\u003cp\u003eModel of the single-axis solar tracker [5]\u003c/p\u003e","description":"","filename":"6.png","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4867016/v1/1b7ab1da57faadc7db7c673d.png"},{"id":61950573,"identity":"6060b0d2-c997-437f-b44f-2689702f3daf","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2024-08-07 12:27:09","extension":"png","order_by":7,"title":"Figure 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INTRODUCTION","content":"\u003cp\u003eA system known as the solar tracker utilizes the angle of incidence on the surface of the solar PV panels and the sun\u0026rsquo;s rays through the use of its electro-mechanical mechanism, the stepper motor. It is responsible for minimizing the incident rays from the sun by calibrating the panel to be perpendicular as much as possible. Due to the demand posed by the system to manage RES, especially the harvesting and maximizing the sunlight and converting it into electrical energy, a solar tracking system is considered. Sunlight is only available during the day, and solar panels must be active during those periods. There are other factors as well that are affecting the solar panel efficiency and performance during the day; that is the sun\u0026rsquo;s intensity, cloud cover, heat build-up, and relative humidity. The power output of the solar has an impact on those factors, for example, an increase in the power output and solar energy collection is during the midday when the sun is at its highest or peak intensity. On a cloudy day, there is a decrease in the sunlight collection thus leading to less absorption of the sun's rays by the solar panels.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMoreover, power output is reduced by 10 to 25 percent due to heat build-up when the temperature is higher causing semiconductors to increase their conductivity and reducing the magnitude of the electric field [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. Finally, in terms of humidity, the performance of the panel decreases and less amount of power is produced when humidity penetrates the solar panel frame. It can also deteriorate the performance of the panel as well [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR1\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e]. However, the solar tracking system is designed to increase the efficiency and performance of the solar PV panel by utilizing its orientation and decreasing the angle of incidence as much as possible. Apart from a dual-axis solar tracker, a single-axis exhibits functionality that enables the rotation in one direction only, either forward or reversed. Moreover, due to the difference in the weather pattern and shading upon the solar PV module at any time of the day, power saving is of note when dealing with a single-axis tracker. Dual-axis may exhibit rotation which may lead to more power consumption due to the difference in terms of dual directions sensing of sunlight that occurs during the day.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eHowever, careful assessment of the direction of sunrise and sunset needs to be taken into consideration, which allows proper setup for the solar PV profile. Therefore, the rotation would not be affected in other directions except in the single-axis direction. The performance of a photovoltaic (PV) system depends upon the orientation and the site's climatic conditions. Solar PV tracking systems align the modules perpendicular to the incoming solar radiation [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"II. REQUIREMENTS/METHODOLOGY","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe main mechanism of the solar tracking system consists of the tracking device, tracking algorithm, control unit, positioning system, driving mechanism, and sensing devices [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe selection of the photovoltaic module and inverter is based on technology and commercial availability. The selection of a PV module is based on its maturity, commercial availability, performance, and reliability. Multi-crystalline silicone modules are known to last over 20 years with a typical cell efficiency of around 15%. The average yearly degradation of the PV module is 0.7% [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR2\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe orientation of the solar PV module can be discussed to establish a comprehensive method for the selection of the tracking phenomena. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e shows the different types of orientation that can be selected for the design.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFor this paper, we select the horizontal axis E-W PV tracker as shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e (b).\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e2.1 Types of Solar Tracking Algorithms\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe tracking algorithm determines the angles which are used to determine the position of the solar tracker. There are two types of algorithms-astronomical algorithms and real-time light intensity algorithms. The astronomical algorithm is a purely mathematical algorithm based on astronomical references. The real-time light intensity algorithm is based on real-time light intensity readings.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe control unit performs the tracking algorithm and manages the positioning system and the driving mechanism. The positioning system operates the tracking device to face the sun at the calculated angles. The positioning system can be electrical or hydraulic. The driving mechanism is responsible for moving the tracking device to the position determined by the positioning system. The sensing devices are a group of sensors and measurements that measure the ambient conditions, the light intensity in the case of real-time light intensity algorithms, and the tilt angle of the tracker utilizing an inclinometer or a combination of limit switches and motor encoder counts [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR3\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e2.2 Components\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThis section features the electronics and mechanical components that are required to construct the single-axis solar tracker. Table\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e provides the major components used and their functional descriptions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab1\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 1\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctional component for designing single-axis solar tracker\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eComponents\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctional Descriptions\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLight-dependent resistors (LDRs)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLight intensity sensor uses LDRs as a sensing\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003edevice for light for the design of the single-axis\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003esolar tracker\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLM358 Operational amplifier\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAmplify and compute digital signal as input for\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMCU. It functions by comparing the two inverting\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003einput and produces a digital output for further\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ecomputation in MCU\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePIC16F877A MCU\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe MCU is the central controller that operates a\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003esingle-axis solar tracking system\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e4\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e20x4 LCD\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDisplay interface for information on the position of\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ethe solar PV module and the state of light intensity\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e5\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eULN2003 stepper motor driver\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsed to accurately control the movement of the\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003estepper motor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e6\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e74LS138 decoder\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsed to decode the bits for the position LEDs\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eindications\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e7\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStepper motor\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsed to rotate the PV module. The stepper motor used for the model demonstration is 5V.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e8\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eLight-emitting diodes (LEDs)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUse to indicate the position of the PV module versus the active intensity location.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e2.3 Programmer\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eMicrocontrollers are widely used for automation that can be easily embedded with algorithms in the form of programs. These programs can be used to execute instructions that are used to control the operations of a system.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003ePIC microcontrollers (MCU) are widely used in applications that require automation and specific algorithms for the standalone operation of electronics. For the microcontrollers to fully function as hardware, it requires specific software or integrated development environment (IDE) that is responsible for flashing the instruction into the program memory of the microchip.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe programming of the PIC16F877A microcontroller is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe programming software or IDE used in this experiment and prototype is the MikroC Pro for PIC. It uses high-level C\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;programming language and is designed to be used with the PIC Kit 3 programmer. The PIC Kit 3 is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"III. DESIGN","content":"\u003cp\u003eThis section provides the design mechanism of the single-axis solar tracking system.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt is responsible for the positioning of the solar PV panel perpendicular to the direction of the sunlight. The single-axis solar tracking system utilizes seven (7) stationary positions each with 30˚ angle apart starting from east to west directions. The circuit diagram shows the PIC microcontroller (MCU) that is associated with sensing and controlling peripherals that operate the single-axis solar tracking system [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR5\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe discussion of the design presents four main scopes, which are as follows:\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e3.1 Control System\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe approach for the design of a single-axis solar tracker is achieved through a closed-loop control system. The solar tracker has a feedback system that enables the use of the signal from an LDR to be fed back to the controller. Figure\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig3\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e3\u003c/span\u003e shows the feedback control system of the single-axis solar tracking system.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e3.2 The circuit diagram\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe circuit diagram includes the necessary components required to facilitate the operation of the single-axis solar tracker. The block diagram design of the proposed single-axis solar tracker is shown in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe PIC16F877A microcontroller consists of mainly 5 ports, from port A \u0026ndash; E. PORTA contains 8 pins and is mostly used as analog pins of the microchip. PORTB \u0026ndash; PORTD contains 8 pins and is used mostly as digital pins.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAs seen on the block diagram in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig4\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e4\u003c/span\u003e, PORTA is configured as an output port that provides control bits for the stepper motor driver, a rotational indicator (east or west direction), and a RES selector indicator (solar or other RES). PORTB is also configured as an output port which provides control bits for the decoder to perform indications of the position of the solar panel when at rest. PORTD is configured as an input port for stationary LDRs signals. External circuit design such as an LDR amplifier circuit is used to amplify the LDRs signals to the MCU and at the same time provides an intensity indication of the position that has a higher light intensity. PORTC is configured as an output port that connects the LCD for display. The connection of each peripherals corresponding to the ports and pins can be seen on the circuit diagram in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e using the simulation approach.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe detailed design is done using the Proteus design suite and is presented in section 3.3. It presents the schematic of the design for the overall circuit of the single-axis solar tracker.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e3.3 Simulation\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe simulation is based on real-time \u0026ndash; where the practical application can be seen in section 3.4. The Proteus Design Suite is a proprietary software tool suite used primarily for electronic design automation. The software is used mainly by electronic design engineers and technicians to create schematics and electronic prints for manufacturing printed circuit boards [\u003cspan citationid=\"CR6\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e].\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig5\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e5\u003c/span\u003e shows the schematic of the design. It comprises of functional components and is tested in real time using the proteus design simulator.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe main components associated with the schematic are depicted in Table \u003cspan refid=\"Tab1\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e1\u003c/span\u003e, with their descriptions and purposes for use in the design of a single-axis solar tracker. The test simulation was carried out to ensure that the stability was maintained. The proteus software offers a remarkable simulation platform through which the single-axis solar tracker was tested.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e3.4 Prototype\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe model in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e is used to demonstrate the working of a single-axis solar tracker. It consists of three main components as labeled.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe physical components used in the model are described in Table \u003cspan refid=\"Tab2\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e2\u003c/span\u003e with their functional descriptions.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"gridtable\"\u003e\u003ctable float=\"Yes\" id=\"Tab2\" border=\"1\"\u003e \u003ccaption language=\"En\"\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionNumber\"\u003eTable 2\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv class=\"CaptionContent\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eDescriptions of the model components\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/div\u003e \u003c/caption\u003e \u003ccolgroup cols=\"3\"\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c1\" colnum=\"1\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c2\" colnum=\"2\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cdiv align=\"left\" class=\"colspec\" colname=\"c3\" colnum=\"3\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003cthead\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colspan=\"3\" nameend=\"c3\" namest=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSolar Tracker Model Components\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eNo\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003ePhysical Component\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003cth align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eFunctionality\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/th\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/thead\u003e \u003ctbody\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e1\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eSolar PV Model\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(plastic board)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsed as a demonstration in place of solar PV module.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e2\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eRotational LDR\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(SP_LDR)\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eAttached to the solar PV module and to compute the equivalent bits with the SP_LDR while in rotation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003ctr\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c1\"\u003e \u003cp\u003e3\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c2\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eStationary Position LDRs\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e(SP_LDR[\u003cspan citationid=\"CR7\" class=\"CitationRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e])\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003ctd align=\"left\" colname=\"c3\"\u003e \u003cp\u003eUsed to detect the position of the sunlight with higher intensity.\u003c/p\u003e \u003c/td\u003e \u003c/tr\u003e \u003c/tbody\u003e \u003c/colgroup\u003e \u003c/table\u003e\u003c/div\u003e \u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe single-axis solar tracker has the ability to monitor the light intensity of the sun. The result of the movement of the solar PV for the light intensity is generated experimentally using the prototype that has been designed.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results have proven that the angle of incidence can be reduced through the use of a solar tracker while power output can be maximized. Unlike a dual-axis solar tracker, a single-axis solar tracker has a minimum power requirement to only control a single stepper motor for rotational purposes and has 7 direct positions to align the PV panel.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e4.1 Flow Chart\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe flow chart in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig7\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e7\u003c/span\u003e summarizes the operations of the solar tracker concerning the intensity and position of the panel. It portrays the design of programmable instruction sets and the result during the mode of operation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e4.2 Operation\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe sensing mechanism of the sunlight is through the use of LDRs, which is a sensor that has a resistance decrease ability when the sun hits the surface of it. On the other hand, the resistance increases when there is no sunlight detection. The sensor output is amplified to become the input to any MCU digital pins, and from there, further computational approaches are done. Upon the light intensity of any of the LDRs, the MCU sends a command signal to enable the rotation of the stepper motor to the direction of the sensors with the highest intensity. Stepper motor is termed due to its accuracy known as step angle and is used mostly in robotics and industries where accuracy is highly recommended.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe command line in the controller executes the following operation as described by the flow chart. Initially, the controller will monitor the 7 stationary position LDRs (SP_LDR) {ID value 1 to 7 for stationary positions 1 to 7 respectively} which are mounted at a certain position and 30-degree angle apart from each other with initial position i\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0. If SP_LDR on position 1 has a higher intensity, then 1\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;0, so stepper motor will rotate the PV module in the right direction until the rotation LDR (R_LDR) on the PV module is equal to the SP_LDR at position 1 and the rotation will be stopped, thus and a new initial position is set (in that case is 1). If the solar PV panel is at rest at position 7, and there is a higher light intensity at position 1, then the computation (if 1\u0026thinsp;\u0026gt;\u0026thinsp;7) is false, the controller will send the signal to the stepper motor to rotate in the left direction until the R_LDR is equal to SP_LDR at position 1.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eAll in all, through monitoring the initial position of the PV module, the operation, and the direction of the rotation depending on the light that triggers the SP_LDR. If the SP_LDR is greater than the initial position of the PV module, the rotation will be in the right direction. On the other hand, if the SP_LDR is less than the initial position of the PV module, the rotation is toward the left direction. The rotation will stop or is at rest when the LDR specified as the SP_LDR equals the R_LDR (specifically the bits). Variables such as the angle, intensity, and position are synchronized in the LCD for on-site monitoring.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003cb\u003e4.3 Display\u003c/b\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe display circuit consists of a liquid crystal display (LCD) \u0026ndash; which shows the angle, position, and mode of rotation of the solar panel, the indicator of the position of the light intensity corresponding to the 7 stationary LDRs, the position of the solar panel corresponding to the rotational LDR.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eFigure \u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e shows the display panel of the single-axis solar tracker and its operation.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e \u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe printed circuit board (PCB) was designed using the schematic in section 3.3. The performance of the PCB along with the status update for the positioning of the solar panel was greatly achieved. The prototype model in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e6\u003c/span\u003e works such that by shining a light (torch) along each of the stationary LDRs, the steeper motor turns to align the plastic board (solar PV model) and the rotational LDR. The information on the rotation and the direction, as well as the intensity, are well presented and displayed on the display panel as seen in Fig.\u0026nbsp;\u003cspan refid=\"Fig8\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003e8\u003c/span\u003e.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"V. CONCLUSION","content":"\u003cp\u003eThe simple solar tracker present in this paper serves as a guide in implementing a reliable and cost-effective system for governing the sunlight that can be used in electricity production. The integration of multiple stationary LDRs along with a single movable LDR provides precise monitoring of the sun's radiation. Most advancement in solar energy harvesting is to utilize and enhance solar tracking mechanisms. This mechanism is therefore suitable for increasing the energy output of the solar panel. This horizontal single-axis solar tracker is fully functional during the daytime.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe results present mainly focus on the deliverance of the tracking phenomena and how best will the system respond to the changes in the sunlight position during the day. The algorithm embedded in the PIC microcontroller as programs executes the entire operational description of the horizontal single-axis solar tracker. The program code is provided in the \u003cspan refid=\"Sec6\" class=\"InternalRef\"\u003eappendix\u003c/span\u003e section of this paper.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIt is successfully proven through the process of validation and testing using the simulation and the prototype. We assure by using the simple design, we can enlarge the prototype to cater to a huge application that requires more solar PV modules per installment. It can be portable to rural homes and domestic industries that target solar renewable energy for electric power production. Increasing the use of solar electricity and harvesting the maximum power production will greatly contribute to sustainability and mitigation of global warming and its effects.\u003c/p\u003e"},{"header":"References","content":"\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWiggins, N. (2016, July 10). [PDF] FACTORS AFFECTING SOLAR POWER PRODUCTION EFFICIENCY - Free Download PDF. SILO.TIPS. https://silo.tips/download/factors-affecting-solar-power-production-efficiency \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAlkaff, Saqaff \u0026amp; Shamdasani, Nikesh Haresh \u0026amp; Yun II, Go \u0026amp; Venkiteswaran, Dr. Vinod. (2019). A Study on Implementation of PV Tracking for Sites Proximate and Away from the Equator. Process Integration and Optimization for Sustainability. 3. 10.1007/s41660-019-00086-7. \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eRacharla, S., \u0026amp; Rajan, K. (2017). Solar tracking system \u0026ndash; a review. \u003cem\u003eInternational Journal of Sustainable Engineering\u003c/em\u003e, \u003cem\u003e10\u003c/em\u003e(2), 72\u0026ndash;81. https://doi.org/10.1080/19397038.2016.1267816\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHow to Use PICKit3 to Upload Code to PIC Microcontroller. Retrieved July 29, 2024, from https://microcontrollerslab.com/pickit3-up\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSylvester Tirones, Raj Kumar, \u0026quot;Design of Microcontrollers Based Smart Battery Management System Enhancement for Off-Grid Remote Homes\u0026quot;, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Volume 13 Issue 4, April 2024, pp. 379-386, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR24330232016 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWikipedia contributors. (2023, December 16). Proteus Design Suite. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 13:30, July 24, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Proteus_Design_Suite\u0026amp;oldid=1190185753 \u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ol\u003e"}],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":true,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Papua New Guinea University of Technology","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":false,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":false,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"solar tracker, renewable energy, microcontroller, real-time light intensity, high-level language, light dependent resistor","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4867016/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4867016/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe use of renewable energy for electricity generation has become increasingly demanding in remote locations and off-grid areas around the globe. Harnessing renewable energy such as the solar radiation from the sun to produce electrical energy enables the decrease in the cost of the energy demands and at the same time, contributes to sustainability and mitigates global warming and its effect. Since sunlight is natural and abundant, focussing on the development of managing the harvesting of this energy is quite imperative.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eIn this paper, we shall present a design that integrates the use of a solar photovoltaic system along with a simple single-axis solar tracking system that aims at improving the energy absorption by the solar panel by aligning the panel perpendicular to the sunlight.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe simple design consists of multiple stationary LDRs used as sensors for sunlight detection assembled at a fixed position and a single rotational LDR attached to the movable solar panel to match the sun's position with the stationary LDRs. The results show that the proposed single-axis solar tracker presented in this paper is economical and can increase the power output of the solar PV panel.\u003c/p\u003e \u003cp\u003eThe model can be projected on a bigger scale and targets domestic electricity production in rural locations.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Single Axis Solar Tracker using PIC Microcontroller and Light Dependent Resistors","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2024-08-07 12:27:04","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4867016/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"ff64a6d3-10d6-4e4c-aefe-b8f5a7cfbd0c","owner":[],"postedDate":"August 7th, 2024","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[{"id":35648318,"name":"Electrical Engineering"}],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2024-08-07T12:27:04+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2024-08-07 12:27:04","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-4867016","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-4867016","identity":"rs-4867016","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"qtupq5eGEP_6zYnWcrvyt","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}