Practical implementation of solar car optimized route estimation

Abstract

Solar Car Optimized Route Estimation (SCORE) has been proposed in an earlier publication as an alternative navigation principle for solar cars, conducting route optimization based on both distance and solar irradiance data. This paper gives details about the implementation and discusses results of SCORE's use, suggesting possible limitations and future research directions. The results show limited applicability of solar irradiance data for route optimization, but suggesting that parking place selection is an important aspect that needs to be taken care of. The implementation uses both a MATLAB testbed application and C/C++ code for TI's ARM Cortex-M4F based TM4C123G LaunchPad, and the final version of the SCORE client is placed in a custom built solar vehicle. Combined with the previously developed server for sensor data collection and data processing and sensor transmitter infrastructure for solar irradiation, the route optimization system is fully operational.