A group of students from Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) has created an innovative solar "robot" designed to optimize solar energy utilization for various applications, including industrial systems, residential electrification, and power generation at dams.
According to Manuel Neto, one of the creators, the main objective of the solar robot is to enhance efficiency and reduce electricity costs for the Mozambican population.
The idea emerged from observing how solar incidence varies throughout the year and based on different angles, leading to uneven energy distribution.
Conventional solar panels, typically fixed in one direction, rarely capture the ideal amount of energy due to the Sun's movement. The solar robot, therefore, adjusts the panels' position in real time to maximize energy capture.
The robot's technology includes two main components: a structure with servomotors that allows necessary adjustments and a control system based on a microcontroller, known as the robot's "brain," which manages input and output data.
The project won first place in the Scientific Journeys organized by EDM in partnership with UEM, a recognition the young innovators attribute to the hard work and collaboration involved. This prototype is just the beginning of a broader vision, with plans to pass on knowledge to future generations by creating an educational robotics school.
For Manuel Neto, the solar robot not only contributes to energy efficiency but also paves the way for technological development in Mozambique, promoting a sustainable and innovative approach to progress.
(By Renaldo Manhice)
