Solis: Automated Solar Panel Cleaning.
A robotic solution designed for India's 40 million+ rooftop solar households, increasing energy efficiency by 25% while eliminating the risks of manual cleaning.
Role
Product Designer
Timeline
15 Weeks
Focus
Automation & UX
Outcomes
Functional Prototype
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THE PROBLEM
An Investment Covered in Dust and Danger.
For millions of Indian households, rooftop solar is a promise of a sustainable future. But this promise is quickly obscured by a harsh reality. Dust and debris can slash a panel's output by 25%, while the manual cleaning required is dangerously high-risk, involving precarious heights and live electrical components.
Homeowners needed more than just a cleaner; they needed a safe, reliable way to protect their investment and gain peace of mind. The challenge was to design a complete system that automates maintenance while giving users effortless control and insight.
A Human-Centered Design Process.
From day one, the hardware engineering and digital user experience were developed in parallel, ensuring a truly unified and user-focused product.
Context Inquiry
Conducted user interviews to understand the physical dangers and emotional frustrations of manual cleaning, alongside their desire for performance data and control.
Generating Insights
Analysis revealed key pain points: safety fears, water waste, and a lack of feedback. This led to the core design principles: safety, efficiency, and empowerment.
Phygital Prototyping
Built the physical robot while simultaneously developing the PWA prototype, allowing for real-time testing of the complete user journey from app to robot.
Key Insights.
What we learned from talking to users and analyzing the problem.
INSIGHT 1
Water isn't enough
Simply rinsing with water fails to remove stubborn dust and grime. Mechanical scrubbing is essential for restoring efficiency.
INSIGHT 2
Accessibility is a barrier
Most rooftop panels are installed at heights that make regular, safe cleaning nearly impossible for the average homeowner.
INSIGHT 3
Automation is desired
Users see solar as a long-term, low-maintenance investment. An automated cleaning solution aligns perfectly with this mindset.
From Concept to Reality.
The initial prototype focused on validating the core cable-driven movement system using basic materials and stepper motors. It proved the concept was viable.
V1: The Proof of Concept
The initial prototype focused on validating the core cable-driven movement system using basic materials and stepper motors. It proved the concept was viable.
V2: The Functional Core
A laser-cut chassis was built to house all electronic components, including the Arduino, motor drivers, and power supply, creating an integrated and robust system.
V3: The Final Form
The final prototype features a protective casing, the integrated cleaning mechanism, and refined software for both automatic and manual control, ready for real-world testing.
An Intelligent Cleaning Engine.
Solis is a compact, robust robot that intelligently navigates solar arrays to provide a thorough, water-efficient clean.
The Robot: Your Rooftop Guardian
An autonomous, water-saving robot that uses a cable-driven system and a dual-cycle mop to navigate and clean any solar array with precision, day or night.
The Experience: Seamless Control
Initiate a cleaning cycle from the app and watch the robot respond instantly. Receive real-time status updates and performance reports, closing the loop between digital command and physical action.
The App: Your Command Center
A sleek PWA with an Apple-inspired UI. Monitor efficiency, schedule cleanings, or take manual control. It's installable, offline-ready, and features a beautiful dark mode.
The App: Your Command Center
Includes comprehensive weather-based automation and energy monitoring. The cleaning process should be streamlined by a single page that allows navigation among all three setting.
The Digital Companion.
A sleek, mobile-first companion app for managing and monitoring the Solis cleaning system.
Interact with App here!
Take over demo any time!
