DESCRIPTION
SO1 is a Cleaning-Robots from Forthtech. It is built for Cleaning, Scheduling, Monitoring. Key figures: 25 kg, 480 min runtime.
The SO1 is an autonomous, waterless solar panel cleaning robot from Forthtech, an Ahmedabad robotics and engineering firm, designed for large utility-scale and tracker-based solar plants. Forthtech presents it as a project built for a solar plant client's layout and dust conditions, and markets it with a product brochure. The robot walks along the panel table on a four-wheel drive without extra tracks and sweeps dust off with rotary nylon brushes, moving in both directions. Edge-detection, fall-prevention and obstacle sensors keep it on the array. It parks at a dedicated docking station, is self-powered from a 24 V, 25 Ah battery and carries current, temperature and motion sensors with fault detection and over-current and over-temperature protection. Optional IoT links over GSM and long-range LoRa, with GNSS, allow remote monitoring, scheduling, SCADA integration and over-the-air updates. The brochure gives a 470 mm width, 340 mm height and 25 kg weight, a 120 W motor, up to 8 hours of work per charge and about 6 hours of charging. It handles tilts of 0 to 45 degrees, climbs up to 25 degrees, cleans at up to 1.6 km/h and is rated IP65 with C4 corrosion protection. Forthtech states it covers about 10,000 square metres a day on one charge.
FEATURES
- Autonomous, waterless dry cleaning for utility-scale and tracker solar plants
- Rotary nylon brushes (PV-module-safe)
- brush lifespan 2-3 years
- Bidirectional drive
- 4-wheel drive
- walks on the table with no additional tracks
- Dedicated docking / parking station
- Self-powered
- self-charging
- Edge-detection and fall-prevention sensors
- Obstacle detection and avoidance
- Current, temperature, motion and fault detection sensors
- Over-current, over-temperature and abnormal-condition protection
- Intelligent fail-safe mode
- Width 470 mm, height 340 mm
- Net weight 25 kg
- Body of aluminium alloy and FRP
- IP65 protection
- C4 corrosion protection
- Motor power 120 W
- Power input 24 V DC
- battery 24 V / 25 Ah
- Working time up to 8 hours
- charging time about 6 hours
- Panel tilt range 0-45 degrees
- climbing angle up to 25 degrees
- Applicable panel gap 20 mm
- Cleaning speed up to 1.6 km/h
- Humidity up to 70% RH, non-condensing
- Covers about 10,000 m2 per day on one charge (company claim)
- Optional IoT: GNSS, GSM (cellular) and long-range LoRa
- SCADA supported
- centralised plant-level control
- Real-time monitoring and fault alerts
- OTA updates, operational logs, predictive maintenance schedule
- Automated cleaning scheduling
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Verified| Physical | |
| Weight | 25 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | W 470 mm × H 340 mm |
| Materials | Aluminium alloy, FRP, Nylon brushes |
| Mobility | |
| Movement Type | Wheeled |
| Speed | 1.58 km/h |
| Environment | Outdoor dusty, harsh solar plant environments; panel tilt 0-45 degrees; up to 70% RH non-condensing, IP65 |
| Actuators | Electric 4-wheel drive, 120 W motor power |
| Power | |
| Battery Life | 480 min |
| Sensing & Compute | |
| Sensors | Edge-detection sensors, Fall-prevention sensors, Obstacle detection, Current, temperature and motion sensors, GNSS |
| Connectivity | GSM (cellular), long-range LoRa, GNSS; SCADA supported; OTA updates |
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TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Verified| Physical | |
| Weight | 25 kg |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | W 470 mm × H 340 mm |
| Materials | Aluminium alloy, FRP, Nylon brushes |
| Mobility | |
| Movement Type | Wheeled |
| Speed | 1.58 km/h |
| Environment | Outdoor dusty, harsh solar plant environments; panel tilt 0-45 degrees; up to 70% RH non-condensing, IP65 |
| Actuators | Electric 4-wheel drive, 120 W motor power |
| Power | |
| Battery Life | 480 min |
| Sensing & Compute | |
| Sensors | Edge-detection sensors, Fall-prevention sensors, Obstacle detection, Current, temperature and motion sensors, GNSS |
| Connectivity | GSM (cellular), long-range LoRa, GNSS; SCADA supported; OTA updates |
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the SO1?
The SO1 is an autonomous, waterless solar panel cleaning robot from Forthtech, an Ahmedabad robotics and engineering firm, designed for large utility-scale and tracker-based solar plants.
Who makes the SO1?
The SO1 is made by Forthtech, a robotics company based in India.
How much does the SO1 cost?
Forthtech has not publicly announced pricing for the SO1. You can enquire through RobotAIGeek for current pricing.
What is the SO1 used for?
The SO1 is designed for cleaning, scheduling, and monitoring. It is used in energy and cleaning & facilities settings.
How much does the SO1 weigh?
The SO1 weighs 25 kg.
How fast is the SO1?
The SO1 can move at speeds of up to 1.58 km/h.
What is the battery life of the SO1?
The SO1 runs for about 480 minutes on a charge.
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