Design and Implementation of a Solar Tracking Robot for Renewable Energy Enhancement in Electric Vehicle Charging

Ali Alzahrani¹, Mouiad Nahhas¹, Abdulaziz Alogla¹, Khalid Almghrabi¹, Nawaf Albishri¹ and Ahmed M. Nahhas^1,

¹Department of Electrical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Umm Al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

Cite this paper:
Ali Alzahrani, Mouiad Nahhas, Abdulaziz Alogla, Khalid Almghrabi, Nawaf Albishri and Ahmed M. Nahhas. Design and Implementation of a Solar Tracking Robot for Renewable Energy Enhancement in Electric Vehicle Charging. American Journal of Electrical and Electronic Engineering. 2025; 13(2):15-19. doi: 10.12691/ajeee-13-2-1

Abstract

This paper presents the design and implementation of a single-axis solar tracking robot (STR) aimed at maximizing solar energy harvesting efficiency and exploring its use in off-grid electric vehicle (EV) charging systems. Unlike fixed solar panels that suffer performance losses due to the sun’s movement, the STR autonomously aligns a photovoltaic panel using light-dependent resistors (LDRs) and a servo motor, while its mobility system repositions the entire unit in search of optimal sunlight. The robot was built using cost-effective components such as Arduino Uno, L298N motor driver, and DC motors, and simulated in Proteus before hardware implementation. Field testing demonstrated an efficiency gain of up to 26% compared to static panels. The results suggest that the STR provides a viable, scalable solution for renewable-powered EV charging in remote or underdeveloped areas.

Keywords:
Solar Tracking Robot Arduino LDR Photovoltaic Mobile Robot EV Charging Renewable Energy

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