Title: Design and building of a solar robotic cleaner chassis

Authors: Hilal S. Al Hashmi; Ibrahim S. Al Jassasi; Ali Al Humairi; Yusuf Bulale; Mohammed Al Salmi; Poorya Ghafoorpoor Yazdi; Afzal Husain; Marwah Al-Azzawi; Peter Jung

Addresses: Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, P.O. Box 1816/PC 130, Oman ' Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, P.O. Box 1816/PC 130, Oman ' Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, P.O. Box 1816/PC 130, Oman; Communication Technology, Duisburg Essen University, Oststraße 99, 47057 Duisburg, Germany ' Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, P.O. Box 1816/PC 130, Oman ' Faculty of Engineering and Computer Science, German University of Technology in Oman, Muscat, P.O. Box 1816/PC 130, Oman ' Manufacturing Systems Department of Design, Production and Management, Faculty of Engineering Technology, University of Twente, P.O. Box 217, 7500 AE, Enschede, The Netherlands ' Mechanical and Industrial Engineering Department, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat PC-123, Oman ' Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Muscat University, P.O. Box 550/PC 130, Muscat, Oman ' Communication Technology, Duisburg Essen University, Oststraße 99, 47057 Duisburg, Germany

Abstract: Static and dynamic errors affect the controllability and delay validation of mechanical structures on the design strategy methodology. These errors can be scrutinised and minimised or afforded by implementing programmable scrutinising technologies such as finite element analysis (FEA). This paper presents a brief for designing, simulation by finite element analysis (FEA), and building a robotic solar cleaner to mitigate soiling off the surfaces of photovoltaic (PV) systems. The chassis comprises of four complex cross-sectional extrusion profiles size 2040 made of an aluminium alloy grade 6063-T5. The robotic solar cleaner chassis has been modified to allow for a successful solution. The results file was then generated, and solutions added encompass the equivalent stress, equivalent total strain, and the total deformation. In addition, the directional deformation perpendicular to the direction of the applied forces. The maximum yield strength affecting the geometry was less than the proportional limit compared to the maximum yield strength of the material. The volume of the chassis components will remain constant amid the elongation caused by the applied forces when comparing the resultant ratios of the total and directional deformations to the maximum loading figures that the material can withstand.

Keywords: solar robot cleaner; 2040 aluminium extrusion; finite element analysis; FEA.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2024.138949

International Journal of Design Engineering, 2024 Vol.13 No.1, pp.50 - 91

Received: 04 Sep 2022
Accepted: 10 Dec 2023
Published online: 04 Jun 2024 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article