Tuesday, 13 November 2012

Further Research


Week Two:



On reflection over the week the ideal prototyping platform for development of this project would be the Arduino as it is easily configured and the software is familiar as it is very like the C programming language, the Atmel micro controller could then be incorporated into the PCB design for the finished product.

In lab further research was sought for efficiencies and studies as to the drop off in efficiencies at different angles to the sun however little could be found on the nets about it that was freely published.

The Light spectrum was investigated. Ideas about setting a calendar and a position tracker in software to track its position were investigated. However for the moment a simple zero position switch can be implemented and this can be used to position the tracker to the east for the next day.

A sensor is needed to analyze the sky either by comparison using light dependant resistors or by perhaps infra red sensors further investigation is needed for the method.

The motor also will have to be discussed as one has to rotate more than 180 degrees and the other maximum of 90 so a stepper and a servo might be ideal also the servo could be useful for a feedback software update in a future development for better sensitivity or even develop a software readout of position (the latter is not initially going to be used).

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