Using a Robot to Estimate the Azimuth Angle of the Sun

by Vaggelis and Filippos Atlasis

Using a self-constructed Ev3 Mindstorm robot, we managed to measure the Azimuth angle of the Sun at different times during the day. By clicking on this link (you can also find it below as an embedded pdf file), you will find attached a complete report on our investigation, including details on the construction and programming aspects of the project, our methodology, the analysis of our results as well as a reference to the mathematical model used to find the exact value of the Azimuth angle at any given time and day. 

The Mindstorm robot aligned with a compass, facing North

Booting up the Mindstorm robot

Example of a measurement taken by the robot. The value on the left indicates the angle with the highest light intensity measured and the value on the right is the maximum light intensity measured.