Inspired by pine cones, scientists create automatic sunshade without electricity
According to foreign media reports, retractable awnings have long been used to adjust the amount of sunlight during the day, but usually they are driven by electric motors. However, just recently, engineers from the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, inspired by pine cones, developed a sunshade system that can be opened and closed automatically-it does not require electricity. In order to release the seeds at the most suitable time, the pine cones will open the scales in warm and dry weather, and remain closed in cold and humid weather. The natural mechanism behind this can be said to be very intelligent-the scales are composed of two interconnected fiber layers, which contract when the surrounding space dries to form a conical shape. This mechanism has inspired some scientists in the past. A research team has developed a garment with open and closed pores, which can respond to the temperature and provide the wearer with a comfortable temperature. Other researchers have also used this mechanism to develop memory materials that can bend or curl with changes in humidity. Now, the EHT Zurich team led by Chiara Vailati has built a prototype of the shading system based on this concept. It can provide maximum shading effect at noon, and it is put away in the morning and evening when no shading is needed. It is reported that this system consists of two different layers of wood, namely spruce and beech. Among them, the lines of spruce are unidirectional and the lines of beech are vertical. The system mimics the structure of pine cones, allowing it to adjust to changes in humidity. In order to maximize the reaction speed, the researchers arranged these boards in pairs, one layer was placed in a substantially vertical state, and the other layer was suspended in midair. When the weather becomes humid, such as at night or in the morning, the board will stand upright, and when the air is dry, for example, at noon, the board will bend, and the lower board will push the upper board outward, thus forming below shadow. The research team says the system can be used to make a roof or curtain that can be opened or closed by itself. It is reported that such a system not only uses environmentally friendly materials, but also has relatively low installation and maintenance costs, but also reduces the amount of electricity used to cool the building. Led Floodlight,Led Flood Lamp,Ip66 Led Flood Light,Outdoor Led Flood Lights Guangdong Smart Street Lighting Co., Ltd , https://www.fldlight.com
