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Solar panels

Currently, almost all spacecraft use electricity generated from autonomous batteries or solar panels. The main advantage of solar panels is that there is no atmosphere, rain and clouds outside the earth, the flow of solar radiation is constant, and therefore the panels generate current around the clock. An example of such a device is our OrbiCraft-Vigilant.

OrbiCraft-Zorkiy

Picture 1. OrbiCraft-Vigilant

The principle of operation of solar panels​

The solar battery converts light into electric current. The basis of the solar battery is photovoltaic converters of the light energy of solar radiation. Their principle of operation is based on the phenomenon of the photoelectric effect – the ability of bodies, especially semiconductors, to increase their electrical conductivity when exposed to a radiant light flux.

The principle of operation of solar panels

Picture 2. The principle of operation of solar panels

Solar panels in the OrbiCraft 3D educational designer​

The solar battery, as mentioned earlier, converts light into electric current. The Arduino reads these values and outputs the power generated by the solar panel via the LCD display. Based on these values, using solar sensors, it is possible to orient the spacecraft to turn to the sun in order to recharge the device.