Towards Sustainable Smart Sites: Design and Development of Autonomous Solar Panel Cleaning Robot

Recent years have witnessed an upsurge in adoption of solar panels across various sectors as a form of sustainable energy. Although solar panels offer clean energy solutions, their effectiveness may be compromised by dust accumulations or environmental residues that accumulate on them over time. There is an increasing demand for effective cleaning solutions that not only uphold optimal performance but also meet sustainability principles. This article presents the design and development of an Autonomous Solar Panel Cleaning Robot to address this need. Utilizing smart system, this robot navigates solar panels autonomously while cleaning them for maximum energy yield and consistent output. Design features include eco-friendly materials and energy-saving mechanisms, reflecting an approach that takes a holistic view to sustainability. Preliminary field tests indicate a marked improvement in panel efficiency after cleaning with the proposed robot, showing success across many panel configurations and environmental conditions. As its adoption can lead to reduced manual labor and maintenance cost savings as well as extended lifespan for solar installations, autonomous solutions offer many potential advantages when applied. This successful implementation could set new standards in long-term operational success for solar power plants and steering solar energy towards true sustainability.