Are you looking to build your own Arduino Solar Tracker from scratch? This course will guide you through the process of using Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs), which are light-sensitive devices in your solar tracking project. You utilise four Light Dependent Resistors (LDRs) to detect the sunlight and send signals to Arduino, guiding two servo motors to place the solar panels in an optimal position that maximises their efficiency. You will discover that the servo motors move the solar panel towards the LDR, where the resistance is low. This resistance decreases as light falls on the Light Dependent Resistor. When the light falls equally on both resistors, the solar panel doesn't move as this will be optimal. You'll learn more about Arduino, an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software.
At first, we will introduce you to the hardware requirements that you will need to design your Arduino solar tracker. The Arduino board is critical in this project since it can read inputs and turn them into outputs such as activating a motor. Using the Arduino programming language and the Arduino software, you can send a set of instructions to the microcontroller via the board. The other necessary hardware that you will use is the photoresistor. The resistance on this resistor varies depending on the intensity of the light. It is made of a high resistance semiconductor that absorbs photons. We will explain that depending on the quantity and frequency of these absorbed photons. The semiconductor material gives the bound electrons enough energy to jump into the conduction band. As a result, the free electrons will conduct electricity which will lower the photoresistors' resistance.
Discover that the solar panels move to the optimal position because the Arduino code sends LDR readings to the Arduino board to control the two servo motors. Where is the solar tracker program written? This course will clarify that you will use the Arduino IDE to program your solar tracker. You will master the two main methods of creating a new file in this software: void loop and void setup. You will explore the interface of the fritzing software and find out that you can use the Arduino web editor without downloading and installing any software, depending on your preference. Finally, you will study light-sensitive sensors, schematic wiring diagrams, circuit design and loop coding. Don't delay if you're an electronic circuit expert or are passionate about designing a solar tracker! Sign up for this course today and learn how to create your first Arduino solar tracker.
What You Will Learn In This Free Course
View All Learning Outcomes View Less All Alison courses are free to enrol, study, and complete. To successfully complete this Certificate course and become an Alison Graduate, you need to achieve 80% or higher in each course assessment.
Once you have completed this Certificate course, you have the option to acquire an official Certificate, which is a great way to share your achievement with the world.
Your Alison certificate is:
- Ideal for sharing with potential employers.
- Great for your CV, professional social media profiles, and job applications.
- An indication of your commitment to continuously learn, upskill, and achieve high results.
- An incentive for you to continue empowering yourself through lifelong learning.
Alison offers 2 types of Certificate for completed Certificate courses:
Digital Certificate: a downloadable Certificate in PDF format immediately available to you when you complete your purchase. Physical Certificate: a physical version of your officially branded and security-marked Certificate All Certificate are available to purchase through the Alison Shop. For more information on purchasing Alison Certificate, please visit our FAQs. If you decide not to purchase your Alison Certificate, you can still demonstrate your achievement by sharing your Learner Record or Learner Achievement Verification, both of which are accessible from your Account Settings.