Application of Fuzzy Logic Control Approach in a Microcontroller-Based Sun Tracking System

The efficiency of a solar panel is related to the amount of solar energy it acquired, so it is necessary for the panel to track the sun's position accurately. A microcontroller-based sun tracking system is proposed in this paper, which is comprised of a sensor, a microcontroller, and two stepper motors. The solar sensor is a four-quadrant type with four photodiodes, and is used for the direction determination of the sun. The fuzzy logic control approach is developed in the microcontroller to drive the stepper motors. By implementation of the tracking system, the solar panel can be perpendicular to the light beam at any moment so as to obtain the maximum solar radiation. The experimental results illustrate that the proposed system can increase the output power of the solar panel significantly.