1. Introduction

In daily life, many low-rise residential units and classrooms often rely on artificial lighting during the daytime, which not only wastes energy but may also adversely affect health. For instance, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation can lead to skin allergies or more serious conditions [1]. Moreover, certain indoor environments with improper lighting levels can cause discomfort for individuals sensitive to light. Some classmates have noted that dim lighting contributes to vision decline, while excessively bright artificial light irritates the eyes and causes discomfort [2].

The researchers found that up to 30% of surveyed individuals have experienced varying degrees of light-related discomfort. Furthermore, insufficient natural lighting leads to high energy consumption from artificial sources, representing a significant portion of total building energy use and posing challenges to sustainable development [3]. This highlighted the urgent need to enhance solar energy utilization while ensuring safety. However, existing policies and technologies have fallen short in addressing this issue [4], largely due to the lack of consideration for lighting requirements in architectural design standards and the high cost and complexity of current lighting technologies, which hinder widespread adoption [5].

From a broader perspective, this issue not only affects individual quality of life but also has profound impacts on sustainable development. Excessive energy consumption increases environmental pressure, while growing health problems burden the healthcare system [6]. To address these concerns, the research team developed an integrated device combining efficient light collection, ultraviolet filtration, and optical fiber conduction through an in-depth study of physical optics, ultraviolet reaction mechanisms, and mechanical control. And ultimately, designed the "Medusozoa" system, aiming to optimize solar energy utilization while effectively mitigating light pollution and health risks associated with ultraviolet exposure.

The study posits that current indoor lighting issues mainly arise from inadequate architectural lighting design—such as windows that are too small, improperly oriented, or obstructed—while natural light intensity is further influenced by weather and seasonal variations [7]. To address this, this paper proposes a solution focused on optimizing natural light utilization by efficiently collecting and channeling sunlight while filtering out ultraviolet light [8]. This approach reduces reliance on artificial lighting, thereby improving indoor lighting conditions and enhancing the efficiency of natural light resource use.

A compact device was developed to efficiently collect and conduct natural light using optical materials and simple mechanical structures [9]. The device incorporates ultraviolet filtration [10] to mitigate potential health risks from UV exposure while enhancing the efficiency of natural light utilization to meet diverse user needs. To validate the device’s feasibility, the researchers combine optical simulations with practical experiments. Specifically, UV-sensitive materials are used to assess filtration effectiveness, while light intensity sensors [11] monitor indoor illumination levels to evaluate the device’s light conduction efficiency and adjustment capabilities under varying environmental conditions.

2. Results and discussions

For this solar tracking device, A solution was adopted that combines light sensors with a servo system [12] to accurately track the sun’s position and transmit sunlight indoors via optical fibers. This approach offers high light utilization efficiency, enabling automatic adjustments to maintain stable indoor lighting without manual intervention, and demonstrates strong adaptability to varying environmental conditions.

The structure of the Medusozoa system is demonstrated in Figure 1. Detailed design and assembly process are illustrated in the supporting information.

Solar panels: Provide energy, ensuring the device can operate independently during sufficient sunlight. Light sensors: Detect sunlight intensity and direction. Servo motor: Adjusts optical component angles based on sensor data to ensure continuous light tracking. Condenser lens and UV filter: Focus light and filter out UV rays, transmitting only useful light. Optical fibers: Transmit focused light indoors. LED supplemental lighting: Provides additional illumination when light is insufficient. Base: Supports the entire system, ensuring stable operation. Actual lighting terminal: Distributes light to various indoor areas for illumination.

To verify the system’s functionality and accuracy, a series of experiments was designed targeting key modules, including UV filtration, sunlight tracking via light sensors, fiber optic conduction efficiency, and solar panel performance optimization.

2.1. UV filtration effectiveness test

Using UV lamps to simulate sunlight, UV filter’s removal efficiency was evaluated by observing changes in security markings on paper money before and after filtration, verifying the filter’s ability to prevent harmful UV damage. The results are listed in Table 1 and Figure 2, indicating that UV filter performs as expected, proving the device's feasibility in ensuring healthy light output.

2.2. Light sensor and servo functional test

To confirm the coordinated operation of light sensors and servos, the researchers conducted tests recording servo angle adjustments in response to light sensor output under varying light intensities, assessing the system’s ability to maximize sunlight collection as external lighting changes. The results are summarized in Table 2, confirming light sensors and servos can effectively cooperate to achieve real-time optical component angle adjustment, proving system feasibility in sun-tracking functionality.

2.3. Fiber optic conduction effectiveness test

Fiber optic transmission was tested by channeling light collected by condenser lenses through fibers and measuring output light intensity with sensors. This allowed calculation of fiber transmittance and performance analysis under different light source conditions. The results are listed in Table 3, demonstrating that fibers maintain high transmittance (>99%) with minimal loss for natural light, flashlights, and LEDs, proving their efficient light conduction capability meets system design requirements.

2.4. Solar panel efficiency optimization test

The system was tested under varying lighting conditions to assess solar panel efficiency, particularly focusing on energy storage and supplemental lighting capabilities during cloudy or low-light periods. This verified the system’s ability to dynamically adjust energy management based on ambient light intensity. The results are listed in Table 4. Testing under various conditions showed LED modules significantly improve indoor brightness when light is insufficient, especially during cloudy weather and dusk. While less critical in sunny conditions, supplemental lighting proves essential in low-light environments, verifying reliable energy storage and supplemental functionality across different conditions.

These experiments provide robust data to evaluate the performance and effectiveness of each functional module, ensuring the system’s stability and reliability in practical applications. Future enhancements could focus on improving light sensor response speeds and boosting supplemental lighting effectiveness under extreme conditions.

3. Conclusion

The "Medusozoa" system integrates solar tracking, UV filtration, and high-efficiency fiber optic conduction to deliver natural indoor lighting while minimizing UV exposure. Key accomplishments include designing the full system framework, implementing Arduino-based tracking algorithms, and validating performance across light capture, filtration, and transmission. While current limitations involve size constraints and basic low-light control, future improvements aim to enhance adaptability, reduce weight, and refine supplemental lighting algorithms. With strong potential for commercial and environmental impact, Medusozoa offers energy savings, improved public health, and broader applications in homes, commercial spaces, greenhouses, and light-limited regions.