The Team Formerly Known as NREL 2 Ryan Manning Eric Simley Arvind Talukdar

Presentation Outline Solar Tracker/DE2 Development Project Brief overview: Original Goals, Modified Goals System block diagram: Highlighting project essentials System Specifications (schematics… etc.) Software Descriptions Division of Responsibility Parts List: Obtained, not obtained Schedule

Recap The Problem Our Solution Original Project Goals Complete low-cost solar tracking system with monitor (VGA) and keyboard (USB) setup. Modified Project Goals Focus on essential areas: I/O, LCD, A/D, multiplexing system, stepper motor apparatus.

System Block Diagram Altera DE2 Board Stepper Motors/ Mechanical Apparatus Monitor/Interface Photodetectors Keyboard Solar Panel/ Battery Apparatus Mouse USB VGA I/O Non-Essential Essential

Photodetector Circuit

VGA Schematic

VGA Timing

Photovoltaic Cell Circuit

I/O Schematic

Software Photodetector Inputs Read Store Cycle Mux Ctrl Data Input Compare Inputs 90°? No Yes Motor Ctrl according to photodetectors Motor Ctrl according to PV power Solar Panel Input Power Optimized? No Done. Now sleep Yes

Stepper Motor Circuit

Driver Circuit Specifications Motor runs at 2.8A/step 4-Lead Bipolar Stepper Motor Supply voltage V Level shifter for input to PWM and DIR Sign Magnitude PWM

Division of Tasks Stepper Motor Mechanical Apparatus – Everyone A/D and Multiplexing circuit – Eric Stepper Motor Driver Circuit and Control – Arvind PV Cell Power Management – Ryan I/O pin logic – Complete (Ryan) Monitor interface – Eric Keyboard interface – Ryan Algorithm Development – Eric and Arvind…and Ryan

Bill of Materials

Milestone 1 3/20 Functional Stepper Motor Circuit Control motor position using software Functional Photodetector Circuit Switch between multiple photodetector outputs Functional PV Cell Power Circuit Monitor instantaneous Power Output Charge 12V Battery

Milestone 2 4/17 Keyboard Input VGA Output Final PV Cell/Stepper Motor Hardware Complete

Schedule

Questions