1

RUNNING HEADING: LAB NOTEBOOK 7

Jarrett Lash & Hahnbee Lee

February 8th, 2017

Solar Energy: Out on a Limb

Weve succeeded in the coding of the Raspberry Pi.

LAB NOTEBOOK 7 2

Materials and Methods

These past two weeks we were able to overcome many obstacles in coding. We were

having issues with getting the servo-hat to be detected on the Raspberry Pi, so we tried different

types of connection pins. We eventually found a connection pin that was capable of creating a

stable connection to the Pi. Next issue we faced was having a solid connection to the servos

themselves. We found that this was not an issue of physical connection, but in the coding. We

guessed that the code was delivering the wrong amperage to the servos, thus under powering

them. Once we played with the amps, we were able to find a suitable level for one of the servos

that had been used for a previous project. We are still trying to find the correct amps for the high

strength servo we ordered to use. However, for the initial testing the low powered servo will be

sufficient (Figure 1).

In the next two weeks, we plan to start coding the data collection system so that we can

actively collect data as the system runs. We also plan on connecting the UV light detector so

when a large amount of UV is detected in a certain section then the servos will be capable of

following the sun. Although, we desire to be flexible with the design and if this isnt a feasible

option we plan on simply coding the servos to move every 30 minutes or so in sync with the

natural movement of the sun across the sky,

For the tree, we have decided to make it a simple two branch tree. Instead of having the

middle pivot branch, we will just have the two on the outside. We think that this will be alright

for the testing to create active data that represents the added benefit when place into both angles

from Monte Carlo simulations as well as in the Fibonacci branch sequencing.

LAB NOTEBOOK 7 3

Figure 1 Code for the servos to move back and forth.

LAB NOTEBOOK 7 4

Data and Results

As stated in our last Lab Notebook, we have not collected any data. We are still in the

process of forming our design so we can construct our PVTree for testing. But the quantitative

data we plan on collecting is the amount of solar energy collected when we change the different

angles at which the panels will be set and program different pattern at which our tree will move

in accordance to sunlight. We plan on making a logger pro-esque system that will inform us on

how much energy we have collected over a specific time period in a day. Qualitative data will be

in the different features and structures we end up deeming the most effective which is evidently

the characteristics that allow us to gain the most sunlight in a day. Data will be measured in ratio

between lux detected and electricity harnessed to ensure a common pattern as well as steady and

reliable results.
LAB NOTEBOOK 7 5

References

Cockfield. B. (2015). Two Axis Solar Tracker. Retrieved October 25. 2016 from:

http://hackaday.com/2015/08/25/two-axis-solar-tracker/

Dimitrokalia, E., Mackrilla, J., Jones G., Ramachersb Y., Caina R. (2015). Moving away from

flat solar panels to PVTrees: exploring ideas and peoples perceptions. Retrieved

September 15, 2016 from:

http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/about/environment/carbon/solar_trees/downloads/proceeding

_paper2015.pdf

Sarokin. J. (2014). How to: Build a Solar Powered Raspberry Pi. [Video File]. Retrieved

October 20. 2016 from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpAYDcW_Jx0

Verma, N., Mazumder, S. (2014). An Investigation of Solar Trees for Effective Sunlight Capture

Using Monte Carlo Simulations of Solar Radiation Transport. Retrieved September 27,

2016 from:

https://kb.osu.edu/dspace/bitstream/handle/1811/68744/Navni_Verma_Hayes_Research_

Forum15.pdf?sequence=1

Zhr, M., Friedrich, D., Kloth, T. Y., Goldmann, G., & Helmut Tributsch, H. (2010). Bionic

Photovoltaic Panels Bio-Inspired by Green Leaves. Retrieved September 19, 2016, from

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/49293285_Bionic_Photovoltaic_Panels_Bio-

Inspired_by_Green_Leaves