Bio-Inspired Group Design by Team Sustainable Solar

Flower Panels

PROBLEM

The most applicable form of renewable energy to the population is solar. However, a major deterrent of switching to renewable, solar energy is the associated high cost. Additionally, solar panels in general are limited by the angle at which they are placed in. Because of that angle, solar panels collect sunlight for fewer hours than the amount of time the sun is actually out.

INSPIRATION

The solar design panels are influenced by the snow buttercup flower which adjusts its orientation to maximize sunlight absorption. The flower tends to adjust its orientation significantly when put under blue broadband light, a phenomenon that is only apparent in blue light because the flower is much less reactive with red light sources.

THE BIO-INSPIRED DESIGN

Our design takes inspiration from the mechanisms and the behavior of flowers that allow them to track blue light and effectively move their orientation to face the sun throughout the day. To address the issues of a fixed positioned solar panel, the incorporation of a rotating axis and flexible design in conjunction with the blue light sensors of flowers will create a panel that optimizes the amount of sunlight it receives as the sun moves by adjusting to the changes in light.

THE NEXT STEPS

For future testing and research on our solar panel designs, we seek the aid of Jacobs engineering to model the orientation mechanism

of the snow buttercup flower and incorporate it into the design. One area of improvement is to more closely monitor the environmental

sustainability of the product and develop a method to construct the solar panels in a safe, effective, and cost-efficient manner.