Solar Panel Mount

For my final project in Design Tools I, my team designed and built a functional solar panel mounting system for a primary school in Amatari, Amazonas, Brazil. We selected the site because of its limited access to electricity, educational inequality, and strong year-round solar exposure. Since Amatari is close to the equator, we analyzed annual solar angles to define the motion requirements for the system.

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Using SolidWorks, we developed a two-axis pan-and-tilt mechanism with 180° of tilt and more than 180° of horizontal rotation. Most structural components were 3D printed, while bearings, hinges, servos, and a chain-driven mechanism were integrated into the assembly. We also calculated the required torque at about 1.87 kgf·cm and selected a servo rated for 22.8 kgf·cm, giving the system enough capacity for smooth and stable movement.

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The project also required rapid design iteration. When one purchased component had an incompatible spline, we adapted the mechanism using available parts and kept the prototype functional. Testing also identified a weak chain hook as a future improvement. Overall, the project strengthened my skills in SolidWorks, CAD assembly design, additive manufacturing, servo integration, torque analysis, prototyping, and engineering problem-solving.