Ax Solar Robot is an Ax Group brand specializing in the design and production of solar panel cleaning solutions.

Before going into detail about the various robots offered by Ax Solar Robot, we need to look at the panels themselves. Solar panels can be installed in many different configurations, depending on their location: on a roof, in a shade, on the ground in a fixed position, on the ground on a tracker, suspended, vertically on buildings etc.

Not all of these configurations can be optimally cleaned with a single solution, which is why there are several types of robot that specialize in one or other of these applications.

Why use a solar panel cleaning robot?

A solar panel cleaning robot optimizes the solar output of panels and ensures their durability by protecting panel joints from lichens, for example.

Robots are one possible solution for cleaning solar panels, and the advantages of a robotized solution are manifold:

• for optimum cleaning.
• allows risk-free cleaning of panels.
• higher cleaning efficiency.
• operator safety.

The features of our solar panel cleaning robots

Ax Solar Robot offers a range of robots to suit different applications and solar fields.

For the ground segment, we have the WetSlider family, dedicated exclusively to ground-mounted and rooftop power plants.

The WetSlider is a hydraulic motor-driven robot with no on-board electronics, making it more robust. The WetSlider is designed for fixed or tracker-mounted 1P/2H power plants. The robot adapts to the size of the panels, and cleaning is made possible by the motor-pump unit supplied by Ax. 

The WetSlider XL is a further development of the WetSlider for cleaning floor-mounted plants with multiple panel heights, and is equipped with an additional frame for cleaning 3P plants up to 6m high.

The WetSlider F is the latest member of the WetSlider family and is dedicated to floating power plants. Our pumping and filtration system makes it possible to use lake water directly to clean the modules.

The cleaning of rooftop power plants is divided into two categories: permanent cleaning systems and mobile cleaning systems.

The Spider is an autonomous robot that is permanently installed directly on the roof for regular, automatic cleaning. The Spider is equipped with rain sensors, enabling it to be used without a hydraulic connection. It is also equipped with its own solar panel, making it self-sufficient in energy. Its clogging sensors can also trigger cleaning depending on losses, and precisely calculate the gains generated by cleaning.

The Rider range is a solution that can be moved from roof to roof. It is designed for users who need to clean several different sites. The Rider M cleans rooftop plants up to 25° inclination with an average output of 1000m²/h, making it the perfect tool for service providers.

The Rider S completes the range. Smaller and lighter, it is designed for owners of power plants that allow autonomous cleaning.

Manual or semi-manual solutions are available for small solar power plants such as those on single-family homes, or for plants on inaccessible or steep roofs.

Ax Solar Robot’s solutions include pole-mounted rotary brushes and rotary brushes that can be deployed from the ridge, the main advantages of which are ease of use and equipment flexibility.

How to properly use a solar panel cleaning robot

Each robot has its own specific operating characteristics, which depend not only on the robot itself, but also on the installation and its environment.

Mastery of the equipment is ensured by a training course offered by Ax Solar Robot. This training includes a review of the user manual, a first worksite and advice from our experts on how to get off to the best possible start. At the end of this training, a certificate of aptitude is issued by the manufacturer.

The environment is a key factor in the success of cleaning projects. For example, clearing undergrowth from ground-mounted plants can have an impact on cleaning, as can the accessibility of a roof. Temperature is also an important factor, to avoid damaging the panels with hot spots and cold water on hot panels, for example. Conversely, temperatures that are too cold can make panels slippery, making cleaning too complicated.

How to maintain a solar panel cleaning robot

Each robot has different maintenance recommendations. Storage should be frost-free, and batteries should be recharged regularly during the winter.

Ax Solar Robot also offers a maintenance service during the off-peak season, including full maintenance of the robots so that they’ll be back on the track as good as new in the spring.