The Chinese manufacturer said its new Star Shine I system is already available in Europe and can operate at speeds of 10-18 m/min, covering cleaning routes of up to 3 km round trip and 9 km in one direction.
Chinese solar tracker manufacturer Arctech Solar has introduced its Star Shine I cleaning robot for photovoltaic installations to the European market, with an autonomous control system designed for utility-scale solar installations.
The system operates in a timer-controlled dry cleaning mode and can travel at speeds of 10 to 18 meters per minute. “It achieves a cleaning efficiency of more than 99.5%,” said a company spokesperson pv magazine.
The design reportedly allows cleaning routes of up to 3 km in round trips along module rows, supporting deployment on long strings of photovoltaic modules. The robot can travel up to 9 km in one direction.
Arctech Solar The system can operate at module tilt angles between 10° and 30° and can overcome obstacles up to 50 mm high, while adapting to turning angles of 20° and operating on slopes greater than 20°. The robot also includes an AI-based deviation correction system intended to improve movement accuracy during cleaning operations.
The Star Shine I measures 2,685mm x 495mm x 430mm and weighs approximately 38kg. It is designed to operate in temperatures from -20 C to 60 C and humidity up to 99%.
According to the manufacturer, autonomous navigation is one of the most important features of the system. It is complemented by a dual-link mechanism that allows integration with solar tracking systems, allowing the robot to coordinate its operation with the module structure and perform cleaning without disrupting the operation of the installation.
The robot operates on an electronic control system with an operating voltage of 24 V and a current consumption of 2 A to 3 A. It is powered by batteries of 12 Ah or 24 Ah. The smaller battery allows the robot to travel approximately 1.4 miles round trip, while the larger battery increases the range to up to 2.8 miles.
Arctech Solar said the system can also be integrated with monitoring platforms through SCADA systems, allowing remote monitoring of cleaning activities. Plant operators can manage the robot through multiple interfaces, including web-based platforms and mobile applications.
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