Solar tracking system: An educational tool to introduce mechatronics engineering to renewable energy studies

© 2019 TEMPUS Publications. Project Oriented Learning in Mechatronics courses curricula is a key aspect in the teaching-learning process. In addition, graduated engineers with competences in design and implementation of renewable energy systems are in strong demand by today¿s society. This paper presents a solar tracking system test-bench used to track the path of the sun and to redirect the solar beams to a specific point. The system is composed by an electromechanical plant and a control system implemented in National Instruments LabVIEW IDE. Such system is proposed to carry out a project in mechatronics engineering curricula for introducing undergraduate engineering students to mechatronics design and prototype implementation in the context of actual renewable energies. This proposal aims to develop students¿ competencies oriented to the design, implementation and validation of mechatronic systems. The experimental platform would allow the teacher to complement theoretical aspects, whereas students would learn in a challenging environment where they would generate a complex prototype focused to solve a current world problem.