In the city of Neiva, Colombia, they developed a specialized robot for cleaning photovoltaic solar panels that has wide autonomy, and that was designed with Lidar technology, with anti-fall and anti-shock sensor.

This robot, known as SunnyCleanBot, and designed by the company Sunny App, can be directed by remote control or computer and marks its route generating a mapping in real time that helps us identify the areas where the cleaning has already been carried out.

The SunnyCleanBot has the capacity to clean 1200 m2 per hour equivalent to 600 solar modules with a range of 4 km of remote control operation, with autonomy of up to 4 hours of continuous operation, speed and autonomy, real-time mapping and automated cleaning.

The company explained that before the creation of this device, they carried out the maintenance of the solar panels with brooms, rags and pressure washers. Thus, it was a necessity and an opportunity to create an automated solution. In 2019, the company participated in the 851st call made by Minciencias, in alliance with the National Learning Service (SENA), which contributed resources to innovation projects in the country. Today his project is a reality.

"In the market, in Europe and in Asia, there are robots that clean solar panels, but we wanted to develop our own robot. We did an international sweep of the state of the art of patents and technology and developed a prototype with all the technical specifications to be world-class. Now the patent is under review," says Camilo Rojas, president of SunnyApp, in statements published by Radio Nacional de Colombia.

This development is currently in the process of being patented.