The document describes a smart microcontroller system for optimally charging batteries in a solar-powered robotic vehicle. It presents a two-part contribution: 1) a solar tracking mechanism that increases power generation regardless of the rover's mobility, and 2) an alternative battery charging design where one battery provides power while the other charges independently. The proposed system uses master and slave microcontrollers, with the master sensing light intensity to adjust the solar panel direction via stepper motor. It was tested on a robotic platform for unmanned exploration with two-fingered arms, Zigbee control, and battery status monitoring through a PC interface.

1. Smart Host Microcontroller for Optimal Battery
Charging in a Solar-Powered Robotic Vehicle
Abstract:
This paper focuses on the design and construction of an optimization charging system for
batteries by means of tracked solar panels. Thus, the implementation of a complete Energy
management system applied to a robotic exploration vehicle is put forward. The proposed system
was tested on the robotic platform an unmanned exploration vehicle specialized in recognition.
The interest of this robotic system lies in the design concept, based on a smart host
microcontroller. On this basis, our proposal makes a twofold significant contribution. On the one
hand, it presents the construction of a solar tracking mechanism aimed at increasing the rover’s
power regardless of its mobility. On the other hand, it proposes an alternative design of power
system performance based on a pack of batteries. The aim is completing the process of charging
a battery independently while the other battery provides all the energy consumed by the robotic
vehicle.
Existing System:
Solar based unmanned exploration vehicles are used in some space researches.
The existing exploration vehicle uses static solar panels, which cannot track maximum power
from solar cells. Here we are using a solar tracking system
to produce maximum power.
Proposed System:
The proposed system uses Master and Slave based Microcontrollers. The Master
controller PIC16F877A senses the light intensity from two different directions using LDR (Light
Dependent Resistors). The panel’s direction is adjusted according to the sunlight direction using
a stepper motor. The exploration robot has two-fingered arm to pic and place the objects. The
robot is controlled using Zigbee protocol. The Battery status will be continuously measured and
sent back to the monitoring unit through Zigbee. The monitoring section consist a PC with
Zigbee transceiver, VB based user interface used to control the unmanned exploration vehicle.
Since we are using solar-based system, power consumption is reduced.

2. Block Diagram:
Robot Section:
Power supply
With Battery
LDR1
Master
LCD
LDR2
Microcontroller
PIC16F877A
Battery
Status
Motor
Driver
Slave
Pick and
Place
Robot
Mechanism
Motor
Driver
Microcontroller
Motor
Driver
Stepper Motor
for Solar
Tracking
AT89C51
Power supply

3. Control and Monitoring Section:
Power supply
Max232
PC
Hardware Requirements:
 AT89C51 Microcontroller with Power Supply
 PIC16F877A Microcontroller with Power Supply
 12V 1A Rechargeable Battery
 Solar Panel
 Stepper Motor
 Max232
 Zigbee Transceiver
 Motor Driver
Software Requirements:
 Embedded C
 Keil C Compiler
 MPLAB or CCS Compiler
Advantages:
 Low power consumption, since we use solar energy for power supply.

Maximum Power will be generated using solar tracking setup.