The Robotics Institute

Carnegie Mellon Robotics Institute

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Abstract

This technical brief analyzes the performance of triple-junction solar cells on a mobile robot. Although originally designed for satellite use, it is demonstrated that triple-junction cells are effective in terrestrial applications. This makes them particularly suitable for systems with limited size and mass but high-power requirements such as a mobile robot. A testing station was specially constructed to characterize triple-junction and conventional silicon cell performance in different environments and to compare their effectiveness. Additional field tests were carried out with an autonomous robot in order to check the ability to deliver sufficient power to varying loads. Results show that they surpass conventional technologies with efficiencies higher than 22%, so they can be considered as an alternative technology for power sources onboard of terrestrial mobile robots.

Keywords

solar cells, ATJ

Notes

Sponsor: NASA

Grant ID: NAG5-12890

Associated Center(s) / Consortia: Field Robotics Center

Associated Project(s): Life in the Atacama

Number of pages: 4

Text Reference

Francisco Calderon, Rolf Allan Luders, David Wettergreen, James Teza, and Andres Guesalaga, "Analysis of High-Efficiency Solar Cells in Mobile Robot Applications," Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 129, No. 3, August, 2007, pp. 343-346.

BibTeX Reference

@article{Calderon_2007_5808,
   author = "Francisco Calderon and Rolf Allan Luders and David Wettergreen and James Teza and Andres Guesalaga",
   editor = "Aldo Steinfeld",
   title = "Analysis of High-Efficiency Solar Cells in Mobile Robot Applications",
   journal = "Journal of Solar Energy Engineering",
   pages = "343-346",
   publisher = "American Society of Mechanical Engineers",
   address = "Three Park Avenue, New York",
   month = "August",
   year = "2007",
   volume = "129",
   number = "3",
}

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