Project number
25032
Organization
General Dynamics Mission Systems
Offering
ENGR498-F2024-S2025
Solar power is an increasingly efficient method of electricity generation and has become an attractive prospect for many homeowners. However, customers have no way to corroborate estimates from a solar power provider and cannot know if the investment in solar panels truly makes sense for them. To address this unknown, the team designed the SPEK, a portable kit that users can rent to accurately measure the solar power potential of their home. It monitors the power output of a small, built-in solar panel throughout the day and transfers that information to a cloud-based application. It also includes a frame and electronics enclosure to ensure the SPEK will remain securely on homeowners’ roofs, insulated from rain and excessive heat.
The team developed an electronic system to accurately measure the power output of the solar panel, while also using the panel as a power source. The design includes an ESP32-C6 microcontroller, which controls the data collection and sends it to the team’s database via the homeowner’s Wi-Fi network. Users can access this data on both the website and the app, allowing convenient access to calculated usage statistics and savings estimations.
The team developed an electronic system to accurately measure the power output of the solar panel, while also using the panel as a power source. The design includes an ESP32-C6 microcontroller, which controls the data collection and sends it to the team’s database via the homeowner’s Wi-Fi network. Users can access this data on both the website and the app, allowing convenient access to calculated usage statistics and savings estimations.