E&TC / ECE · Robotics and drone · Final year project
Thermal Screening Drone for Solar Panels & Electric Towers
A drone with a thermal camera that inspects solar panels and power towers for hot spots. It finds faults quickly without workers climbing towers.
What is the Thermal Screening Drone for Solar Panels & Electric Towers project?
A drone with a thermal camera that inspects solar panels and power towers for hot spots. It finds faults quickly without workers climbing towers.
Key facts
- Branch
- Electronics & Telecommunication (E&TC / ECE); also suits Electrical, Mechatronics
- Type
- Final year project · Advanced
- Suitable for
- Diploma capstone and B.E / B.Tech final year
- Build time
- 6 to 8 weeks
- Estimated component cost
- ₹24,300 – ₹35,800
- Guidance from
- ₹9,999 (Hardware / IoT Final Year)
How the Thermal Screening Drone for Solar Panels & Electric Towers works
- Solar panel and Charge controller module supply the circuit; a regulator gives the controller and sensors a steady 5 V.
- The Camera module captures images or video for recognition and monitoring.
- The Raspberry Pi 4 runs Linux and the main program, handles the camera, networking and heavier processing such as image recognition.
Block diagram
Inputs
Camera moduleController
Raspberry Pi 4Components list and cost
Typical prices from Indian online stores and electronics markets (Lamington Road, Budhwar Peth, SP Road). Buy from one store where you can to save on shipping.
| Component | Qty | What it does | Approx. cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Raspberry Pi 4 (2 GB) | 1 | Runs Linux and the main program, handles the camera, networking and heavier processing such as image recognition. | ₹4,800 |
| Camera module | 1 | Captures images or video for recognition and monitoring. | ₹650 |
| Solar panel (10–20 W) | 1 | Converts sunlight into electricity to power or charge the system. | ₹900 |
| Charge controller module | 1 | Charges the battery safely and stops overcharging. | ₹250 |
| Rechargeable battery (12 V 1.3–7 Ah) | 1 | Stores energy and supplies power when mains is absent. | ₹650 |
| Drone frame (450 mm) with landing gear | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹1,800 |
| BLDC motor (1000 KV) with ESC | 4 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹4,600 |
| Flight controller (F4 / Pixhawk-class) | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹3,200 |
| LiPo battery 3S 2200-5200 mAh | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹2,800 |
| RC transmitter and receiver (6-channel) | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹5,200 |
| Propellers (set) | 2 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹600 |
| LiPo balance charger | 1 | Needed for this type of build. | ₹1,600 |
| Passive components, PCB and wiring kit | 1 | Resistors (assorted), capacitors (assorted), PCB / breadboard and cables, connectors and jumper wires. | ₹310 |
| Wiring, PCB, soldering and enclosure | 1 | Project overhead | ₹450 |
| Demo model base / mounting board | 1 | Project overhead | ₹500 |
| Testing spares and replacements | 1 | Project overhead | ₹300 |
| Estimated total | Varies with brand, quality and city | ₹24,300 – ₹35,800 |
Prices are estimates for budgeting. We confirm the bill of materials when your design is frozen, and components are charged at actual cost with bills.
How much does this project cost?
| Option | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Components only | You buy the parts and build it yourself | ₹24,300 – ₹35,800 |
| Hardware / IoT Final Year | Working model or guided build, Circuit diagram and bill of materials, Firmware / code with explanation | from ₹9,999 + components |
| Capstone Project (CPE) | Working project or model, Black book in MSBTE format, Step-by-step explanation | ₹9,999 + components |
| Diploma ITR | 100% working source code, Project report PDF, PPT | ₹1,999 + components |
No GST and no hidden charges. Use the cost calculator for a quote with your deadline and add-ons, or see all plans.
Download the project brief (PDF)
Summary, working, components and cost and viva questions on one branded PDF to show your guide or team. To get it developed, contact us on WhatsApp.
What you submit with this project
- Working model with circuit diagram and program code
- Project report or black book in your university's chapter order (block diagram, circuit, calculations, results)
- Presentation for the review and final viva
- Synopsis for topic approval, if your college asks for one
E&TC / ECE viva questions on this project
What is the aim of the Thermal Screening Drone for Solar Panels & Electric Towers project?
A drone with a thermal camera that inspects solar panels and power towers for hot spots. It finds faults quickly without workers climbing towers.
Explain the working of your project in short.
Solar panel and Charge controller module supply the circuit; a regulator gives the controller and sensors a steady 5 V. The Camera module captures images or video for recognition and monitoring. The Raspberry Pi 4 runs Linux and the main program, handles the camera, networking and heavier processing such as image recognition.
Why did you choose a Raspberry Pi instead of an Arduino?
The Raspberry Pi is a full computer with an operating system, so it can run Python, OpenCV and a web server. An Arduino is a microcontroller that is better for simple real-time control but cannot process images or run multiple programs.
How is the camera image processed?
Frames are captured and processed with OpenCV: converted to grayscale, filtered and passed to a detection or recognition model that labels faces, objects or number plates.
What is the efficiency of a typical solar panel?
Commercial polycrystalline panels convert about 15–17% and monocrystalline about 18–22% of sunlight into electricity. Output depends on sunlight, angle and temperature.
Why is a charge controller needed?
It regulates the charging voltage and current, cuts off when the battery is full and prevents deep discharge, which protects battery life.
How do you calculate battery backup time?
Backup time (hours) ≈ battery capacity (Ah) × voltage × 0.8 efficiency ÷ load power (W). For example, 12 V 7 Ah at 20 W gives about 3.3 hours.
Explain the block diagram of your project.
The input section senses the real-world quantity, the Raspberry Pi 4 processes it according to the program, and the output section displays the result and drives the actuators. The power supply section feeds every block.
Which communication protocols are used between the modules?
The sensors give digital or analog signals read directly by the controller's I/O and ADC pins, and outputs are driven through transistor or relay drivers.
What is the operating voltage of the circuit?
The controller and most sensors work at 5 V (ESP boards and some modules at 3.3 V). The battery powers the board, and a regulator steps it down. Motors and relays get their own supply line so they do not reset the controller.
How did you calculate the power rating of your system?
Using P = V × I for each load, adding a margin of 20 to 25%. The solar panel is sized from the daily energy need divided by about 5 peak sun hours in India. Battery capacity is the energy needed per day divided by the battery voltage and allowable depth of discharge.
Is your system open-loop or closed-loop?
Closed-loop: sensors measure the actual position, distance or condition and the controller corrects the actuators until the target is reached.
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Want to build Thermal Screening Drone for Solar Panels & Electric Towers?
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