TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES

938 Aurora Blvd., Cubao, Quezon City

COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND ARCHITECTURE

ELECTRONICS ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT

2ND SEMESTER AY 2019-2020

FINALS

INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS
ECE 003
EC42FA1

Solar Tracker
Design of a Solar Tracker using an Arduino Uno

Submitted to:
Engr. Reginald Phelps T. Laguna

Submitted on:
March , 2020

Submitted by:
Team Crius
Geronimo, Frederick M.
Alinea, Arns Vhinzy C.
Bongay, Irene June E.
Cui, Charles A.
Imperial, Mary Majella E.
Layosa, David Noel C.
Martirez, John Robin R.
Soriano, Regine N.
ECE003-EC42FA1 TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES, QUEZON CITY 1

Solar Tracker
Design of a Solar Tracker using an Arduino Uno
Frederick M. Geronimo, Arns Vhinzy C. Alinea, Irene June E. Bongay, Charles A. Cui, Mary Majella E. Imperial, David
Noel C. Layosa, John Robin R. Martirez, Regine N. Soriano
Electronics Engineering Department
Technological Institute of the Philippines
Quezon City, Philippines
Abstract—A solar panel is a device that converts light into microcontroller, the LDR as a sensor, the servo motor as
electricity, however its efficiency may be affected by the the actuator and the solar panel as a transducer that can
sun’s movement during the day which lowers the range to convert sunlight into electricity. After which, designing a
which the solar panel is receiving sunlight. To address this schematic diagram with the required specification was
issue and increase the efficiency of the solar panel, a system done before the materials were gathered for the
that tracks the direction of the sunlight and moves the solar construction of the solar tracker.
panel into a position that would allow it to draw in the most Research transducers such as LDR, servo motors and solar
sunlight is introduced by utilizing an Arduino Uno as a Conceptualpanels
Framework
microcontroller, a light dependent resistor (LDR) as a sensor Research Research Arduino Uno
and a servo motor to act as a muscle that would enable the
solar panel to move. Evaluation of the solar tracker is
Design a solar tracker
conducted by measuring the voltage, current and other
Write an Arduino Uno progam
measurable characteristics of the module and comparing it Designing
to the calculations available.
Measure voltage, current and other measurable
I. INTRODUCTION characteristics
Evaluation Analyze the gathered data
A transducer is a collective term used for both sensors
which can be used to sense a wide range of different
energy forms such as movement, electrical signals,
radiant energy, thermal or magnetic energy, and actuators
which can be used to switch voltages or currents. Devices
which perform an input function are commonly called
sensors because it senses a physical change in some IV. THEORY OF OPERATION
characteristic that changes in response to some excitation
and devices which performs an output function are LDR
generally called actuators and are used to control some
external device.
II. OBJECTIVES SERVO MOTOR
The general objective of the proponents is to design a
solar tracker by utilizing an Arduino Uno as a
microcontroller.
SOLAR PANEL
General Objective
 To design a solar tracker using an Arduino Uno
as a microcontroller ARDUINO UNO

Specific Objective
 Create a system diagram
 Design a circuit
.
 Write an Arduino Uno program that would
utilize the LDR as an input and the servo motor
as an output
 To design a battery charging system to store the
electricity converted by the solar panel
 Demonstrate computation
 Apply solutions to the problems encountered

III. METHODOLOGIES
The creation of the solar tracker began with the
research of the applications of an Arduino Uno as a

GERONIMO, BONGAY, CUI, IMPERIAL, LAYOSA, MARTIREZ MIDTERM MINOR PROJECT

ECE003-EC42FA1 TECHNOLOGICAL INSTITUTE OF THE PHILIPPINES, QUEZON CITY 2
V. SYSTEM DIAGRAMS XI. POST EVALUATIONS
Place related system diagrams here. Flowcharts, Block A. Conclusions
Diagrams and Schematic Diagrams are the minimum B. Recommendations
requirements. Other required diagrams will be discussed
upon giving the project details.
C. Lessons Learned
 Flowcharts. Show the flow of the system from
start to finish and the different decisions and In this project, the group learned that challenges can
processes in between. be overcome easily if done by as a group. It saves time,
energy and even money in doings so. In working as a
 Block Diagrams. Show in a basic and general
group there can be divisions of labor by assigning
sense what subsystems/parts comprise the whole respective roles which can be done efficiently by each
system. Indicate all necessary connections and individual according to his set of skills and talents. Still, it
explain how each of them interacts with one is proven time and time again – the importance of having
another. group huddles and working in one’s house. The
 Schematic Diagrams. Show and explain the opportunity to bond and build trust cannot be understated.
schematic diagram for the external Through this project the proponents are eager to learn
hardware/circuitry made. from each other.
References should be added whenever applicable. Do D. Summary
not forget and go beyond the gutter margin at the left side The project’s purpose is to reinforce the learning of
for compilation purposes. It should at least be an various transducers and apply an automation. The
additional 0.25” on the left side margin. Review and proponents designed a solar tracker which incorporated an
proofread the content before submitting. Good luck now! Arduino Uno, LDR and servo motor to an existing solar
panel with charging system which automated the
movement of a solar panel to follow the direction of the
VI. COMPUTATIONS AND SIZING sun in order to maximize the range to which it can receive
sunlight.
TASK DISTRIBUTION
VII. DATA AND RESULTS Task Person/s Assigned
Conceptualization and
VIII. SYSTEM USAGE PROCEDURES Geronimo and Imperial
Coordination

IX. TESTING AND TROUBLESHOOTING Calculation Geronimo and Cui

Testing and Geronimo, Alinea, Bongay,

Troubleshooting Imperial, and Martirez

Evaluation Cui, Bongay and Imperial

X. PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND ACTIONS
TAKEN Interpretation, Analysis and Geronimo, Bongay, Imperial,
Comparison Layosa and Martirez
The problems encountered by the group was focused
on acquiring of measurements. Geronimo, Alinea, Bongay, Cui,
Documentation Imperial, Layosa, Martirez and
Soriano
PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED AND ACTIONS TAKEN
Problems Encountered Actions Taken
 CHECKED RESOURCES REFERENCES
TO UNDERSTAND WHICH Calculations. (n.d.). Retrieved from
 DIFFICULTY GETTING
CHARACTERISTICS TO https://simplemotor.com/calculations/
MEASUREMENTS
MEASURE AND HOW TO
Engineer, E. (2019, November 29). Working Principle of DC Motor.
MEASURE IT
Retrieved from https://studyelectrical.com/2014/12/working-
principle-of-dc-motor.html
Institute of Physics. (n.d.). Retrieved from
https://www.iop.org/cs/page_43644.html
Sensors and Transducers and Introduction. (2018, February 23).
Retrieved from https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/io/io_1.html

GERONIMO, BONGAY, CUI, IMPERIAL, LAYOSA, MARTIREZ MIDTERM MINOR PROJECT

 APPENDIX A:
TEAM PROFILE

Team Crius

Member Role Specialization(s)

 Designing, Layout and

Project Leader Simulating Circuit
boards

Geronimo, Frederick M..

 Currently taking Data

Science electives
Project Manager  More than 5 years of
experience in writing
Imperial, Mary Majella fiction
E.

Alinea, Arns Vhinxy C. Lead Programmer 

 10 years of experience
flying drones in the US
Lead Researcher
Airforce

Cui, Charles A..

 Soriano, Regine N. Technical Content Writer 

 Currently in a Railway
Data Analyst
System track

Bongay, Irene June E.

 Currently taking
Hardware Developer
Communication Track

Martirez, John Robin R.

 Currently taking
Hardware Technician
Railway System track

Layosa, David Noel C.

 APPENDIX B:
BILL OF MATERIALS

Part Values and Unit Cost Gross Cost

Remark(s) Purchased From Quantity
No. Ratings (Php) (Php)
<Subsystem 1>

Sub Cost
<Subsystem 2>

Sub Cost
<Subsystem 3>

Sub Cost
<Subsystem N>

Sub Cost
Total Cost
(Php)
 APPENDIX C:
SCHEMATIC DIAGRAM