IESE

"Sunlight shading system" is a project idea developed by LU Botanical garden, students of the University of Latvia and RTU IESE. It has been submitted to the project idea contest "2011 Biomimicry student design challenge" which is organised by USA Biomimicry Institute.

The persons behind the project idea are RTU student and IESE scientific assistant Anna Beloborodko, UL Faculty of Chemistry student Edgars Olehnovics, Faculty of Biology students Margarita Bildina, Evita Verpakovska, Sandra Krasucka, UL docents - Brigita Laime un Turs Selga, UL Botanical garden staff Anta Sparinska, Oskars Sturis and Signe Tomsone.

The main idea comes from observation of folding and unfolding of flower blossoms depending on the available amount of Sun, as well from the way how plants exchange gas and liquids with the surrounding environment is applied. These both plant movements (flower blossoms and cells in leafs) inspired the idea about shading system consisting form the "blossoms" which opens and closes depending on the amount of available Sun. When the Sun shines, a copper container is being heated up with a gas in it, the gas dilates and pushes the blossoms outwards using elastic membrane. This system has high energy efficiency; operation of each element is autonomous. The system is suitable for public places, households and greenhouses, which has to be shaded in February. For the competition over 120 applications were received from of which, 12 ideas from 7 countries got into the final.

Photos can be found here