Linfeng Wu Arenas: Enhancing Solar Panel Efficiency with Microcontrollers in Colombian Conflict Areas -A Comparative Quantitative Study of Energy Sources

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This project aimed to enhance the efficiency of solar panels in Colombia, using microcontroller technology to optimize their angle based on sun exposure. Lingfeng's research was able to determine that this type of solar energy is a compatible renewable resource for Colombia's unique landscapes. Here is what Lingfeng had to say about the experience:

What I Did:

"The MICROSUN project aimed to enhance the efficiency of solar panels using microcontroller technology to optimize their angle based on sun exposure. Performing the study in Colombia's diverse landscape, where reliable energy is crucial yet often unavailable, allowed me to have a clear final objective, identify a good energy alternative for communities in remote areas, considering both energy reliability and cost-effectiveness. Through the project, it was demonstrated that technology could provide solutions in energy accessibility, the optimized solar panels increased energy production by over 10% compared to traditional setups, demonstrating a sustainable solution that could reduce electricity costs and reduce non-renewable sources for hundreds of households. I am proud of developing a hands-on mastery of embedded systems, before this project, my experience was mostly theoretical. Now, I'm able to implement systems that interact with their environment in real-time, it also improved my problem-solving skills by adapting to unpredictable field conditions and debugging hardware when issues arose."

What I Learned:

"The biggest takeaway was learning the importance of adaptability, innovations don't always work as planned on the first try, and real-world applications introduce factors that are sometimes not present in a controlled environment. Overall, this experience reinforced my passion for the optimization of devices in a variety of fields with the use of software and hardware, it aligned perfectly with my academic focus in mechanical engineering, providing a practical application of what I have learned in my undergrad career. I believe other students should get involved in projects like this since it not only enhances learning, but it also gives the opportunity of applying what you learned in class to real-world problems; Allowing you to contribute meaningfully to challenges that exist out there in our community."