• Ogbuokebe S. K.
• Chukwu M. C.
• Aikore A. M.
• Olaniyan S. A.

This work has produced a low cost, reliable and functional autonomous solar tracking system using locally sourced available components. This proposed autonomous solar tracking system was designed and developed based on time-triggered and event triggered methods by using Real-Time clock (RTC) and Light Dependent Resistor (LDR) respectively. If the LDR fails, the system uses the scheduled time interval from RTC module to rotate the solar panel. The aim of this research was to develop an autonomous single-axis solar tracking system with ATmega328 microcontroller as its controlling unit and linear actuator (motor) to move the solar panel into the desired angle. The algorithm provided the angle at which the panel would be positioned and automatically moved the linear actuator. Furthermore, a manual mode was provided to allow the user to adjust the panel angle at the preferred position. The tracking in this system was single axis, which allowed for an angle in which the panel needs to be shifted for optimal tracking. This developed single axis system was accurate with promising results. The output voltage obtained from the implemented autonomous solar tracking system varied from 20.12V to 20.49V between the hours of 0900 hours to 1600 hours, which showed that sunlight matters a lot and in order to make the best out of solar panel, there is need to have some kind of power tracking, which will always allow the solar panel to produce a maximum output power. Therefore, based on the results obtained from the implemented autonomous solar tracking system, more energy can be produced compared to the conventional fixed angle solar panels.

Autonomous tracking solar system, Linear actuator, ATmega328 microcontroller, Light Dependent Resistor, Real-Time clock, Solar panels.

"DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OPTIMIZED AUTONOMOUS SINGLE-AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 8, page no.f738-f744, August-2024, Available :http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2408689.pdf

"DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF AN OPTIMIZED AUTONOMOUS SINGLE-AXIS SOLAR TRACKING SYSTEM", International Journal of Emerging Technologies and Innovative Research (www.jetir.org | UGC and issn Approved), ISSN:2349-5162, Vol.11, Issue 8, page no. ppf738-f744, August-2024, Available at : http://www.jetir.org/papers/JETIR2408689.pdf