Premium Motion developed an India-made cleaning robot that communicates with the solar tracker to help time cleaning cycles
The robot uses a nylon brush for water-free cleaning without chemical agents during regular cleaning cycles
Designed for 2 m-long modules on 1P and 2P tracker configurations, the robot operates at 1 km/h and runs for approximately 90 minutes per charge
Premium Motion, an Indian supplier of solar tracker components and manufacturer of tracking systems, has developed a fully India-made cleaning robot for utility-scale PV installations. The solution combines a motor-driven brush with semi-automated operation, fully AI-assisted navigation, remote monitoring, and weather-responsive controls.
The robot uses a soft nylon brush to clean the module surface. According to Sameer Bhapkar, GM - Business Strategy at the company, the robot is designed for water-free cleaning without chemical cleaning agents, provided the modules are cleaned at regular intervals.
The robot uses a four-wheel-drive system with suspension to help it move across uneven surfaces and module gaps. Suspension on each wheel also helps absorb shocks from sudden jolts during movement, Bhapkar said. The robot features a self-locking mechanism to prevent slippage in high winds, along with obstruction detection and automatic responses to irregular movement or module misalignment. These features are designed to help the robot navigate the module rows while reducing the risk of panel damage.
One notable feature is the communication between the cleaning robot and the solar tracker. Bhapkar explained that the robot can receive information about the tracker’s position and module inclination and use the data to determine when to start a cleaning cycle. This allows cleaning to be timed according to the modules’ position, rather than relying only on a preset schedule. The system also supports remote monitoring and control, allowing operators to check the robot’s status and oversee its operation.
The robot is designed for modules measuring 2 m in length and is available for both 1P and 2P tracker configurations. It has a cleaning speed of 1 km/h and can operate for about 90 minutes on a single charge. The product is commercially available to the Indian market.
