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BIO-INSPIRED, COMPLIANT SOLAR TRACKERS IN ARCHITECTURAL ASSEMBLIES

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dc.contributor.authorLin, Anita
dc.contributor.chairSabin, Jennyen_US
dc.contributor.committeeMemberCostanza, Daviden_US
dc.date.accessioned2024-01-31T21:12:27Z
dc.date.issued2023-05
dc.description.abstractThis thesis proposes building-integrated solar tracking systems aided by soft robotics as an hinge-free adaptive structure. Photovoltaics on the market are typically standardized and often left unseen once installed on site. While there are tracking solar panels, they are an investment compared to their stationary counterparts. Their stiff mechanical connections often require excess components that hinder opportunities for smoother generation of movements. By redefining the context of compliant mechanisms in architecture, we can customize and adjust motions with ease through pneumatic actuations. The initial motivation stems from rapid plant movement studies initiated by cell turgor pressure and heliotropic characteristics of sunflowers that informed the design of part-to-whole components. Common mass customization of soft robotics is achieved through silicone castings into open top molds. Our approach is to tailor individual geometries of internal cellular cavities to control pneumatic performance across a network using a constant pressure to maximize efficiency. Challenges of silicone workability are addressed with optimized casting methods and defined tolerances. Adaptation of bio-inspiration of plants' responsiveness to external stimuli also led to the initiation of intimate interactions between the user, environment, and infrastructure. The result of this study is a series of lightweight kit-of-parts to produce aesthetic and dynamic hybrid assemblies that can be further integrated into agrivoltaic or residential sectors. Keywords: Soft robotics, solar-tracking, hybrid assemblies, complaint mechanism, bio-inspiration, BIPV, sustainability, responsive architectureen_US
dc.identifier.doihttps://doi.org/10.7298/rd9s-dg95
dc.identifier.otherLin_cornell_0058O_11776
dc.identifier.otherhttp://dissertations.umi.com/cornell:11776
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/1813/113911
dc.language.isoen
dc.rightsAttribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International*
dc.rights.urihttps://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/*
dc.subjectBio-inspirationen_US
dc.subjectCompliant Mechanismen_US
dc.subjectHybrid assembliesen_US
dc.subjectSoft roboticsen_US
dc.subjectSolar-trackingen_US
dc.subjectSustainabilityen_US
dc.titleBIO-INSPIRED, COMPLIANT SOLAR TRACKERS IN ARCHITECTURAL ASSEMBLIESen_US
dc.typedissertation or thesisen_US
dcterms.licensehttps://hdl.handle.net/1813/59810.2
thesis.degree.disciplineArchitecture
thesis.degree.grantorCornell University
thesis.degree.levelMaster of Science
thesis.degree.nameM.S., Architecture

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