Linear Quadratic Regulator and Luenberger Observer for Solar Tracking System

In this era, electricity energy’s demand is increasing. One alternative energy that’s not polluting and cheap is sun energy. Solar panel is a device that can convert sun energy into electricity. Solar panel can be modified by being given a DC motor, in order to detect the direction of the sun’s light. It is solar tracker. In this research, two-axis solar tracker (horizontal and vertical rotary axis) optimized using LQR and Luenberger observer. Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) is one of the optimal control methods in linear systems with quadratic criteria to solve regulator problems. Luenberger observer is a way to estimate parameters. In many case, all states may not be easy to measure and it needs to be estimated. In this paper, Luenberger observer uses to estimated position and angular velocity because angular velocity on the solar tracker which experiences a lot of noise when taking measurements. Simulation result of this research has conclusions that Luenberger observer can estimate position and angular velocity of solar tracker. Solar tracker optimized with LQR and Luenberger observer have has 0.8 seconds rise time, 1.3 seconds settling time and 0.43% overshoot for both rotary axis of solar tracker. So, a system designed by LQR and Luenberger observer is capable to tracking position of the sun.