DESIGNING AN AR-BASED SELF-RESOLUTION GUIDE FOR RESIDENTIAL SOLAR POWER SYSTEM USERS

Abstract

The solar industry has undergone a significant evolution, from the initial use of photovoltaic (PV) technology in space applications to its widespread adoption in residential and commercial settings. With this growth, home energy management systems have emerged, allowing homeowners to monitor and optimize their energy consumption and energy generation. HEMS technology has continued to involve integrating with smart home systems, enabling more efficient and sustainable energy usage. Although solar technology has existed for some time, the recent paradigm shift is towards digitization and adapting to state-of-the-art technology. Incorporation of the latest technologies such as AI, ML, Blockchain, AR/VR etc., will be prominent in the solar industry in the coming years. This thesis focuses on exploring the advantages, challenges, and opportunities associated with using new media design, such as augmented / virtual reality in the solar sector, identifying how new media design adds value in other industries and then proposing design solutions for the solar industry. In order to propose design solutions, this research uses a literature review, then identify the projects carried out in this domain in various industries in the form of case studies. Post the secondary research, the potential solution proposal is being made in the form of an AR-based troubleshooting guide. To support the need for an AR-based troubleshooting guide, primary research has been conducted where different stakeholders were identified for whom the solution will make the maximum impact. These stakeholders were then brought into the discussion to gather insights about the current issue resolution journey and where exactly the impact can be made. Based on the insights gathered from primary research, certain issues were narrowed down where the self-troubleshooting mechanism would be appropriate. After the primary research, the workflow for the AR guide was designed based on iterations and feedback and then integrated into the existing application under the “troubleshoot” section, as well as an illustrative paper-based guide. The findings suggest that augmented reality can improve the overall home energy management system's accuracy, safety, and efficiency. Troubleshooting the hardware equipment can be ii challenging for homeowners with limited technical knowledge or if they are in a critical situation where technicians cannot access them. A prototype of an AR-based troubleshooting system was developed as a part of the project, allowing homeowners to deal with issue resolution during an emergency. The solution can later be scaled up to provide homeowners with more options for troubleshooting, giving them quick resolution. The study's results suggest that the incorporation of AR technology can significantly enhance the user experience. The designed guide can potentially reduce the need for costly technician visits, and reduce the waiting time on back-and-forth calls with customer support teams, thereby improving overall performance and customer experience. The study also suggests that there is a significant reduction in the number of hours a customer support executive has to spend on resolving such issues, which the homeowner can resolve at their end, which in turn gives more time for the team to focus on more critical issues.