Multifunctional slats

Multifunctional Slats (MS) is a proposed shading system that reacts to environmental factors through sensors and actuators.

The system is imagined as a shading device that is able to protect from the heat incidence and rain of the sun during the day with the same element.

The sun’s incidence angle varies during the day; we normally use horizontal and vertical protection elements.

What if just one element could tackle both functions and protect from water rain?

Logic

System functions

The prototype has three functions: to cover from the afternoon sun, rain and morning sun.

1. The first function is solved by placing vertical slats. To solve the last two objectives, two types of rotations are required.
2. A 90° rotation into the Z axis; when the soil moisture sensor detects water, the servo #1  rotates  the slats into its axis  in order to protect the interior spaces from the rain.
3. A rotation of 90° in the X axis horizontal element that holds the slats. It  is triggered by the servo # 2 when the temperature sensor detects a temperature increase to block the sun exposure of the interior spaces.

Schematic

Prototype