A two-axis solar tracker and its interactive kiosk were designed by an interdisciplinary team of
students and faculty. The objective was to develop a publicly accessible kiosk that would facilitate
the study of energy usage and production on campus. Tracking is accomplished by an open-loop
algorithm, microcontroller, and ham radio rotator. Solar panel output is monitored in real time and
displayed to the public with lights and digits that can be read by the casual passersby. While
maximum power point tracking is the most accurate means of quantifying the output power of a
photovoltaic panel, simplicity and design constraints dictated the use of short-circuit current as a
proxy for power. A touchscreen display allows kiosk visitors to compare two solar panels, an
automatic tracker that faces the sun, and an identical panel whose elevation and azimuth can be
controlled with a virtual joystick. This project was a capstone experience for students in
physics/engineering, computer sci…