Innovation: Development of a "Dual‑Photodiode Pyranometer System for Efficient Solar Measurement" by Assistant Professor Kanishka Rawat (mentor) and students Bhuwan Dawar and Mariya Antu of the Department of Physics, Chandigarh University.
Cost Advantage: Prototype estimated to cost between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,000, a drastic reduction from conventional pyranometers that can cost several lakhs of rupees.
Technical Details: Utilises dual photodiodes, an operational amplifier, Arduino‑based microcontroller, and an LCD module for real‑time display. Integrated AI provides anomaly detection to flag partial shading or sensor mis‑positioning.
Patent: Patent application filed and published by the Indian Patent Office, marking a formal intellectual‑property claim on the technology.
Applications: Intended for use in solar energy (panel performance monitoring, renewable project measurement), precision agriculture, greenhouse automation, meteorology, astronomy, space science, and environmental monitoring. Real‑time solar radiation data can improve irrigation scheduling, greenhouse climate control, and energy management.
Sector Impact: Affordable monitoring can enable smaller renewable projects, educational laboratories, and farming operations that previously could not afford high‑end equipment.
University Profile: Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ graded, QS world‑ranked autonomous institution, approved by UGC, located near Chandigarh, Punjab. It offers over 109 UG and PG programmes and has been recognized as “The University with Best Placements” by WCRC.
