Press Release: Solskin AI:
Solskin AI Innovation Project Approved: Intelligent building envelopes will soon adapt to users and energy requirements, leading to increased comfort and sustainable smart buildings
Zurich, Switzerland, 16.07.24 — The ETH spin-off, Zurich Soft Robotics GmbH (ZSR), has received significant Innosuisse funding for an innovation project with ETH Zurich, amounting to over 600 '000 CHF. In collaboration with its research partner, the Chair of Architecture and Building Systems at ETH, Solskin will become the first commercially available intelligent climate-adaptive building envelope.
The Solskin System
Through intelligently moved photovoltaic modules on the building envelope, Solskin can regulate indoor climate, sunlight, and energy production according to weather conditions and user needs. This allows for more efficient electricity production and intelligent shading of the building's interior.
The Solskin hardware, developed by architects and robotics researchers at ETH Zurich, already achieves significant energy benefits on its own. Adjustable solar modules produce renewable electricity with maximum efficiency while simultaneously shading the interior. ETH research has shown that using Solskin can reduce building energy consumption by up to 80%. In specific cases, such as a south-facing glazed office space in Zurich, complete coverage of energy consumption is possible.
The PV modules are mounted on a modular structure that also carries all the wiring. The modules are moved by an innovative soft-robotic drive. Due to this special drive and its damping behavior, the system is extremely resistant to wind and weather and is designed to function reliably over many years and decades. This has also been confirmed in various tests, such as an installation at the NEST at Empa in Dübendorf that has been operating smoothly since 2021.
In 2023, Solskin was awarded the Watt d’Or Award in the Buildings and Space category by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy as one of the most significant energy innovations. Since January 2024 the development is further supported by the Swiss Climate Foundation.
Solskin AI
Solskin AI aims to make the system smarter than ever. Based on more than four years of research at Empa in Dübendorf by ZSR CEO and founder Dr. Bratislav Svetozarovic and the doctoral work of Head of Control and AI Dr. Loris Di Natale, predictive self-learning algorithms will now be implemented for Solskin.
By integrating Solskin AI, the system will be able to optimally control the position of the solar modules in real-time, achieving the best possible energy efficiency and ensuring the comfort of people behind the Solskin facades. Addressing user preferences, weather conditions, and energy consumption to achieve the best possible result is technically very demanding and varies from building to building. The use of artificial intelligence opens up new possibilities in this area. The human factor also poses a challenge for conventional control systems and with Solskin AI, the system will be able to address individual user needs.
Enabled by the support of the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse, Dr. Svetozarovic states that a major focus of Solskin's technical development in the coming years will be on Solskin AI technology. Collaboration with the Chair of Architecture and Building Systems will also benefit from the unique infrastructure at the new "Zero Carbon Building System Laboratory" (ZCBS Lab) on the ETH Hönggerberg campus. This includes various tests and studies with users to address aspects of comfort optimization. The latest version of Solskin has been installed at the ZCBS Lab and is open for viewing by appointment for those interested.
Perspectives and Applications
By intelligently regulating and utilizing solar energy on facade surfaces, Solskin will be able to optimize the building's temperature balance. Much like our skin does for the body, Solskin's moving elements, which constantly adapt to the situation, will lead to increased comfort and reduced energy consumption. This will become increasingly important in times of climate change.
The application of the system is not limited to new buildings but also offers sustainable options for facade renovations. All Solskin systems will benefit from continuous updates in the AI domain, ensuring they are always up-to-date in terms of energy efficiency and intelligent building envelopes, with a focus on longevity and sustainability. Several projects that will benefit from Solskin's advantages are already in detailed planning or have been approved and are in execution.
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