4. Going Solar
Why worry about batteries when we orbit around the ultimate energy source? The sun radiates vast amounts of energy, and we can use this to power our robots—and other stuff—all through the cool science of solar cells (Figure 4.1), which convert light into electricity.
FIGURE 4.1 Solar cells can be a great way to power your robot.
Your initial thought might be, “Simply add solar panels for free energy!” Not so fast. As I alluded to in Chapter 3, “Rolling Robots,” it’s not that simple. Even if you have a panel big enough to power your rig the way you like it, there’s no guarantee the sun is out. Furthermore, even if the sun is out, ...
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