Journals of Advancement in Electronics Design

Volume 5 Issue 2

Arduino Based Solar Operated Grass Cutter

Shivani A. Raut1*, R. J. Bhiwani2

1M.E. Digital Electronics (Student), Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

Engineering, Babasaheb Naik College of Engineering, Pusad, Maharashtra, India

2Head of Department (Guide), Department of Electronics and Telecommunication

Engineering, Babasaheb Naik college of Engineering, Pusad, Maharashtra, India

*Corresponding Author
E-Mail Id: [email protected]

ABSTRACT
The project describes a grass cutter, which is operated on solar power & is controlled through
microcontroller. This project is mainly reduces the manpower and usage of electricity. Extreme
power point tracking method is used to advance the effectiveness of the solar panel. The DC to
DC buck boost converter benefits to increase the DC voltage from the photovoltaic panel and
store the DC voltage in a battery. It is an automated system for the purpose of grass cutting. The
source is derived from the solar energy by using photovoltaic panels. The DC-DC converter is
used to transform the low level DC voltage into the high level DC voltage. High level DC voltage
is essential to function the whole system. Automation is achieved by using sensors and
microcontrollers. Wheels and cutting operations are operated using dc motors. DC battery is
used for powering and reserve mode operation of the system. The prototype developed is
operated in two modes namely, auto mode and remote mode. In manual mode the control of
cutter is achieved through a remote controller connected via Bluetooth.

Keywords: Microcontroller, FAGC, Solar energy, renewable energy

INTRODUCTION help of ultrasonic range sensors and

The standard of living of a common man is microcontrollers. The working process of
increasing day by day. To make the campus the grass cutter consists of a motor, which
beautiful, maintaining gardens & lawns has provides high rotational speed to the blades.
become common in most of the houses & Due to the high speed of blades the grass
companies. It too helps to retain the gets trimmed by shearing action. In the
environment fresh and reduces the pollution. current situation manually handled devices
Grass cutters have become very essential to are used for trimming the grass, which
maintain the gardens and yards. In order to desires an operator to move the vehicle
prepare beautiful gardens and playgrounds yourself. By using microcontroller based
manual grass cutting doesn’t give satisfied solar grass cutter (MSGC) the labor cost,
results. It may be due to the lack of accuracy maintenance cost can be eliminated to a
and improper cutting. Hence automated certain extent compared to manually
devices can be the better choice for grass operated machine. Based on a literature
cutting operation. survey, it is found that, currently almost all
the grass cutter devices work with
Grass cutter, which has been developed in conventional fuel and electricity, which
this work, is a fully automated robotic causes pollution. In order to overwhelm
vehicle without any human intervention, these problems, a completely automated
which uses solar energy to operate. The solar grass cutter has been established,
main advantage of this vehicle is, it detects which supports the green technology
obstacles and takes the deviation with the initiative, by dropping the pollution. MSGC

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Volume 5 Issue 2

uses solar energy to run the motor and The minimum height of grass can be cut
cutter, by using solar energy. with this prototype is 20 mm and maximum
height up to 50 mm.
The machine is an example of importance &
growing need of renewable energy. MOTIVATION
Considering environmental awareness, The use of solar power as an alternative
MSGC is more efficient and eco-friendly source of energy has been in existence long
which overcomes the drawbacks of fuel- before now, but had used for less
based grass. The MSGC machine was applications due to other frequently used
designed by considering important aspects sources of energy. Solar energy involves the
such as efficiency, accuracy, eco-friendly, process of harnessing radiant light and heat
durability and low cost. The robotic car used from the sun using a range of ever evolving
as a grass cutter can be operated in auto technologies such as solar thermal energy
mode as well as manual mode. In manual and photovoltaics.
mode the grass cutter is remotely controlled
through Bluetooth. To select the modes a These technologies are broadly characterized
switch is provided. as either passive solar or active solar
depending on how the energy is converted to
The major components of microcontroller solar power. The effectiveness of these
based solar grass cutter model are solar technologies have made solar energy a very
panel, batteries, microcontroller, sensors, important source of renewable energy and
motor driver, Bluetooth, DC motors and thereby giving room for new developments
cutter. The abundant solar energy is in its wide range of applications. Today,
collected, with the help of a solar panel world’s power consumption is taking a shift
which is used as a source of energy. The from the use of common sources of energy
battery is used to store the electrical energy such as fossil fuel and wood fuels to solar
produced by the solar panel. energy. The change in energy consumption
trend was due to the awareness of fossil fuel
Microcontroller is used to store the program pollution and its contribution to global
code which controls the direction of the warming, and also the fact that fuel energy is
model motion. Ultrasonic sensor is used to non-renewable and unsustainable.
detect the obstacles in the path of the vehicle
and sends the signal to micro-controllers, The depletion of conventional energy
then microcontroller send the signals to sources has also increased the importance of
motor driver so that wheels would take the nonconventional energy sources absent in
deviations, which helps in avoiding the also all developing countries, fossil fuel has
damage to the vehicle. Passive infrared been a basic source of non-renewable
(PIR) sensor is also connected in the system energy. The fact is when we import fuel
to detect any person nearby. As soon as it there is always a tendency of a hike in the
detects a person in its proximity range the cost of fuel this hampers the development of
grass cutter automatically stops. the country and results in economic
instability.
Two types of DC motors are used based on
the necessity of rotational speed. Two DC Lawn maintenance is the art and vocation of
motors with 30 rpm are used to move the keeping a lawn healthy, clean, safe and
vehicle and DC motor with 500 rpm is used attractive, typically in a garden, park,
for the cutter blade rotation. The cutter blade institutional setting or estate.
of the prototype can be adjusted based on the
height of the grass that needs to be removed.

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Man is continuously trying to adjust to his  Arduino Microcontroller

environment by making a habitat appropriate  Ultrasonic Sensor
for his survival. The project can be very  PIR Sensor
useful under all such situations and is the  Relay
motivation to develop it.  Bluetooth
 Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)
BLOCK DIAGRAM  Motor Driver Circuit
Block diagram of microcontroller based  Motors
solar grass cutter is shown in figure 3. It  Solar Panel and Battery
consists of following blocks.  Cutter

Fig. 1: Block Diagram of microcontroller based solar grass cutter.

The function of every block is explained in consists of digital and analog input / output
brief as follows. pins that can be interfaced to several
expansion boards and other circuits. The
Arduino Microcontroller embedded C program is fed to a
Arduino microcontroller used is an open- microcontroller to control the movement of
source microcontroller board based on the the vehicle. The diagram of Arduino
microchip ATmega328P microcontroller and microcontroller is shown in figure 2.
developed by Arduino.cc. The board

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Fig. 2: Arduino Microcontroller.

Table 1: Specification of Microcontroller.

Operating Voltage 5V
Input Voltage 7-12V
Flash memory 32KB
Frequency 16MHz
DC current on I/O pins 40mA
DC current on 3.3v pin 50mA

Ultrasonic Sensor Ultrasonic sensor is selected, because of its

HC-SR04 ultrasonic range sensors are used, suitability for outdoor application, since
the principle behind this sensor is that it uses intensity of the sunlight does not affect the
sonar to determine the distance to an object sensor, it sends the sound waves unlike the
and it offers the excellent non-contact range light waves in case of infrared (IR) sensor.
detection with high accuracy and stable The diagram of ultrasonic sensor is shown in
readings. The sensor is connected to the figure 3.
microcontroller.

Fig. 3: Ultrasonic Sensor.

Table 2: Specification of ultrasonic sensor.

Power supply 5V DC
Quiescent current < 2mA
Effectual angle < 150
Ranging distance 4cm-400cm
Resolution 0.3cm

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PIR Sensor radiation output of a logic high value. This

PIR sensor used to detect human being. PIR sensor sense the human within the range 1 to
sensor is nothing but passive infrared sensor. 2 feet. They have operating voltage 2.2v to
This sensor work on the principle that the 5v. The diagram of PIR sensor is shown in
human being emits infrared radiation of very figure 4.
low wavelength, thus this sensor sense the

Fig. 4: PIR sensor

Table 3: Specification of PIR sensor.

Operating voltage range DC 4.5-20V
Quiescent current <50uA
Level output High 3.3 V/Low OV
5-200s (adjustable) the range is(0.xx second to tens of
Delay time
second)
Board dimensions 32mm 24mm
Angle sensor <100 cone angle
Operation temp 15-+70 degrees
Lens size sensor diameter 23mm (Default)
Relay controlled by an electrical or electronic
An SPST relay or single pole single throw signal. When a voltage is applied through
relay is a device that has only one input and the relay coil, it makes its contact closed and
one output. It only connects or disconnects when the voltage is detached from the coil it
only one contact when it is operated. creates its contacts open. Generally, relays
Including the coil terminals, it has a total of are designed to control a high voltage and
four terminals. The SPST relay can control a high current circuit by applying a low
single electrical or electronic circuit. voltage or low current power supply. The
diagram of relay is shown in figure 5.
It generally provides a switching function or
on/off function as an electrical switch
provides, just the difference is, and it is

Fig. 5: Relay.

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Bluetooth Module default slave mode is configured. Modes can

To setup wireless serial communication, be changed using AT commands. The slave
HC-05 Bluetooth module is used. It is most mode in HC-05 cannot initiate a connection
demanding and popular due to its low price to another Bluetooth device, but can accept
and extremely high features. This module connections. Master mode can initiate a
can be used in master or slave mode is easily linking to other devices. The diagram of
switchable between these two modes, by Bluetooth module is shown in figure 6.

Fig. 6: Bluetooth Module.

Table 4: Specification of Bluetooth (HC-05)

Profiles Bluetooth serial port profile
Bluetooth protocol Bluetooth specification v2.0+EDR
Frequency 2.4GHz ISM band
Modulation GFSK (Gaussian Frequency Shift Keying)
Emission power ≤ 4dBm, Class 2
Sensitivity ≤ -84dBm at 0.1% BER
Speed Asynchronous 2.1Mbps (Max) / 160 kbps,
Synchronous 1Mbps
Security Authentication and encryption
Power supply +3.3VDC 50mA
Working temperature -20 ~ +75 Centigrade
Dimension 26.9mm × 13mm × 2.2mm
Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) through one would be blocked by the other.
A Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) is a thin, The liquid crystal twists the polarization of
flat display device made up of any number light inward bound one filter to permit it to
of color or monochrome pixels arrayed in pass through the other. Many
front of a light source or reflector. Each microcontroller devices use smart LCD
pixel consists of a column of liquid crystal displays to output visual information. LCD
molecules suspended between two display used is Hitachi's LCD HD44780
transparent electrodes, and two polarizing module. These are inexpensive, easy to use,
filters, the axes of polarity of which are and it is even possible to produce a readout
perpendicular to each other. Deprived of the using the 8×80 pixels of the display. The
liquid crystals between them, light transient diagram of LCD is shown in figure 7.

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Fig. 7: 16×2 LCD Display Module with HD44780 Controller.

connects the DC motor (wheels) to the

Motor Driver Circuit microcontroller. It controls the wheel motion
A L293D dual H-bridge motor driver is as per the program fed to the
used, which controls the speed and direction microcontroller. The diagram of DC motor
of the vehicle. The module can drive the DC driver is shown in figure 8 and the diagram
motor whose voltage is between 5V to 35V, of H-Bridge motor control circuit using
with a peak current up to 2A. Motor driver L293D is shown in figure 9

Fig. 8: DC Motor Driver circuit.

Fig. 9: H-Bridge Motor Control Circuit Using L293D IC.

DC Gear Motor (Wheels) The DC motors shaft of 5mm with 3mm

It is generally a DC motor with a gear box drilled hole, then shaft is inserted into the
attached to it, which is used for the wheel holes made in a chassis and fixed with the
rotation. DC motor used with 30 rpm, which help of threads. Shafts we designed to stand
aids the wheel to rotate gently, so that it with the weight of the chassis. The diagram
covers the area of the grass to be cut. Two of DC gear motor is shown in figure 10.
DC gear motors we used for four wheels.

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Fig. 10: DC Gear Motor.

Table 5: Specification of DC gear motor for wheels.

RPM 30
Operating voltage 12V DC
Gear box used Attached plastic (spur) gear box
Shaft diameter 6mm
Torque 2 kg-cm
No-load current 60mA (max).
Load current 300mA (max).

Solar panel electricity created is called direct current

A solar panel is designed to absorb the solar (DC). The panel having the size of 36 cells
rays, which provides an energy source for is selected to meet the design requirements.
generating electricity. The working principle The solar panel has been placed above the
of the solar panel is, when the photovoltaic chassis with an inclination of 450, so that
cells absorb solar radiation, photovoltaic panel will extract maximum energy from
effect leads to the production of the solar rays. The diagram of solar panel is
electromotive force at the ends of the cells, shown in figure 11.
which then generates electricity. This

Fig. 11: Solar Panel.

Table 6: Specification of solar panel.

Brand Innova
Type of solar panel Poly crystalline
Operating voltage 12V
Operating current 0.6A
No. of panel cells 36

Battery battery of 12 voltage is connected, which has

Lead acid battery is selected, because it is weight of approx. 800g. This helped for
light weight, resistance to corrosion, low bringing the pressure on the wheels to the
cost, recharge ability and the discharge rate vehicle which keep wheels to touch with
is low as compared to other batteries. One ground. The battery is charged by the solar

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panel. It powers additional electrical battery is shown in figure 12.

components in the project. The diagram of

Fig. 12: Battery.

Table 7: Specification of Battery.

Operating voltage 12V
Capacity 5Ah
Initial current 1.5A
Cycle use (7.35-7.50)V
Stand by use (6.75-6.9)V

DC Motor (Cutter) motor of 500 rpm is selected. The DC motor

The DC motor is associated to the cutter and takes the power from the battery. The
located in front of the vehicle for the grass to control of the DC motor has been provided
be cut competently. The cutter has to rotate by a separate switch.
at very high speed for this purpose a DC

Table 8: Specification of DC gear motor for cutter.

RPM 500
Operating voltage 12V
Body diameter 28mm
Shaft diameter 2mm
Torque 0.3kg-cm

WORKING PRINCIPLE The microcontroller controls the grass cutter

The figure 1 shows the block diagram of which is a robot cart. It can be operated in
microcontroller based solar grass cutter. The two modes (i) auto mode (ii) remote mode.
project developed is a microcontroller based The cart consists of three motors, one for
solar grass cutter. The microcontroller rotating a cutter blade and two for the
Arduino nano is the heart of the system and movement of the cart. The cart has four
controls all the functions. The system uses movements namely forward, backward, left
solar power for its operation. The solar panel or right. A switch is provided to select these
converts the sun energy through the solar modes.
panel to charge the battery connected.

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In auto mode the operation of grass cutter is named Arduino RC is downloaded in the
fully automatic. It is controlled through the mobile from play store, which can be used to
program stored in microcontroller. As this remotely control the cart. After downloading
mode is selected the cart moves in forward the app a remote with different buttons
direction and the cutter motor is mode on, to appears on mobile screen which can be
cut the grass. linked through the program in the
microcontroller and can be used.
An ultrasonic sensor HC-SR04 is connected
to the microcontroller for detecting the The microcontroller is connected through
obstacle. The obstacle detection distance is Bluetooth device HC-05 to the mobile
35cm, i.e. when obstacle is at a 35cm the device. Thus through different buttons on
cart stops forward movement and the mobile we can move the cart manually as
automatically rotates in right direction. Thus well as switch on or off the cutter motor.
the cart covers whole area and cuts the grass
in that area. No manual interference is APPLICATIONS
required.  Home Gardens
 College Grounds
A PIR sensor (HC-SR501) is also connected  Function Halls
to the microcontroller for detecting human  Farms
or animals in the vicinity.  Playgrounds
 Lawns etc
When human / animal is detected the .
microcontroller switch off the cutter motor, ADVANTAGES AND
to avoid any damage / accident. After some DISADVANTAGES
delay the microcontroller turns on the cutter Advantages
motor and normal operation restarts.  This solar grass cutter minimizes the
efforts of human being.
The DC motors used to move the cart is  It saves human time.
connected through a driver IC L293D. The  It saves electricity and money.
microcontroller cannot provide the required  Uses advanced technology.
current to drive the motor, hence this drivers  Less maintenance
are used, which enhances the driving  Cost effective & durable
current.  Eco friendly
 Pollution free
A LCD display is used to display the name  Portable
of the project as well as it displays the  No long wires connected
distance of obstacle detected. It also displays
the mode of operation i.e. auto or remote. Disadvantages
The cutter motor is operated through are  Must be used properly during rainy
electromagnetic relay. seasons.
Should be handled carefully
This relay is driven by transistor BC547
through microcontroller.

In remote mode the movement of the cart is

done manually through mobile. An app

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SYSTEM FLOWCHART

Fig. 13: Flowchart.

 .

RESULT AND CONCLUSION obtained. The prototype developed works

Reviving all the literature surveys and by efficiently in both modes i.e. auto and
knowing our needs, a suitable design of remote mode.
solar grass cutter is made. The components
chose are based on the design requirement The cutter is designed in such a way that it
and considering few of the other parameters can cut the grass at desired level. A solar
in order to meet all the constraints. The panel is placed in a position where it can
prototype model of the hardware and obtain maximum energy of the sunlight. So
software system along with the ultrasonic among eco-friendly grass cutter, this device
sensor, PIR sensor, Bluetooth (remote mode) is the efficient one and pollution free.
were demonstrated and required output was

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