AI-Integrated autonomous robotics for solar panel cleaning and predictive maintenance using drone and ground-based systems

Solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, especially in dusty and high-temperature regions, suffer performance degradation due to dust accumulation, surface heating, and delayed maintenance. This study proposes an AI-integrated autonomous robotic system combining real-time monitoring, predictive analytics, and intelligent cleaning for enhanced solar panel performance. We developed a hybrid system that integrates CNN-LSTM-based fault detection, Reinforcement Learning (DQN)-driven robotic cleaning, and Edge AI analytics for low-latency decision-making. Thermal and LiDAR-equipped drones detect panel faults, while ground robots clean panel surfaces based on real-time dust and temperature data. The system is built on Jetson Nano and Raspberry Pi 4B units with MQTT-based IoT communication. The system achieved an average cleaning efficiency of 91.3%, reducing dust density from 3.9 to 0.28 mg/m³, and restoring up to 31.2% energy output on heavily soiled panels. CNN-LSTM-based fault detection delivered 92.3% accuracy, while the RL-based cleaning policy reduced energy and water consumption by 34.9%. Edge inference latency averaged 47.2 ms, outperforming cloud processing by 63%. A strong correlation, r = 0.87 between dust concentration and thermal anomalies, was confirmed. The proposed IEEE 1876-compliant framework offers a resilient and intelligent solution for real-time solar panel maintenance. By leveraging AI, robotics, and edge computing, the system enhances energy efficiency, reduces manual labor, and provides a scalable model for climate-resilient, smart solar infrastructure.