My IoT Journey and Sustainable Development Goals
When I finished my bachelor’s, I was a bit lost in the vast world of engineering, with a multitude of interests but no clear direction. Discovering the Master’s in IoT was a turning point for me. It allowed me to mix my passion for electronics and programming into diverse knowledge areas.
Last week, I was thrilled to receive an award for the best master’s thesis related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). My master’s thesis, “Design and Implementation Of A Procedure To Calibrate Photovoltaic Modules Based On A Sensor Network” seems to align perfectly with multiple of the goals promoted by the United Nations.
These goals promote the use of clean energy sources, encourage innovation, advocate for environmental and economic sustainability, and support the sustainable development of cities and communities. You can explore these goals in greater detail at: https://sdgs.un.org/goals
Introducing My Master’s Thesis
In any engineering discipline, optimization is a constant that keeps on appearing, and photovoltaic (PV) technology is no exception. Here, accurately defining the PV module’s performance is the end goal.
The characterization of PV arrays demands measuring under real operating conditions. Conventionally, this involves using a capacitive load, and the installation of resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) beneath solar panels to monitor temperature distribution. However, this approach required extensive wiring and the need for repeated measurements in various positions, leading to inefficiencies and potential inaccuracies.
This new approach makes use of a sensor network to automate the calibration procedure. Users will interact with the system through a dedicated mobile app that communicates with an edge device – a microcontroller or Single Board Computer (SBC). This device controls actuators and obtains data from sensors, which is then transmitted to the mobile app and stored in the Cloud.
The project integrates a spectrum of different technologies. Electronic circuits, in particular capacitive load circuits. Sensors for temperature data capture, and additionally Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADCs) for accurate voltage and current data acquisition. Communication is established via MQTT, enabling interaction between the program running on the Edge device and an Android Java mobile app. Furthermore, HTTP is employed for efficient file transfer to Cloud Storage, this way avoiding any possible data loss.
As you can see, this represents a fully operational, scalable IoT solution for the efficient calibration of photovoltaic modules.