Carnegie Mellon student researchers explore ways to improve solar panel efficiency

Carnegie Mellon student researchers explore ways to improve solar panel efficiency

A group of student researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Qatar (CMU-Q), a Qatar Foundation partner university, are exploring a new way to clean solar panels so they can operate more efficiently in Qatar weather conditions. The team will investigate using AI to program aerial robots to clean and inspect solar panels.

The project is led by Eduardo Feo Flushing, visiting assistant teaching professor of computer science at CMU-Q. The team will also receive mentorship from Dhanup Somasekharan Pillai, a scientist at collaborating institute Qatar Environment and Energy Research Institute (QEERI), part of Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU).

This project is funded by an Undergraduate Research Experience Program grant from Qatar National Research Fund.

Michael Trick, dean of CMU-Q, emphasized the real-world application of the project: “This is an exciting project because the students will be working to solve a real problem for solar energy in Qatar: keeping the panels dust-free. I look forward to seeing how our students can contribute in such a meaningful way to the renewable energy sector in Qatar.”

Dr. Marc Vermeersch, Executive Director at QEERI, said: “We are happy to welcome CMU-Q students at our outdoor testing facility, we reaffirm our commitment to cultivating a culture of collaboration and