Automated Building Weather Protection System
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Inclement weather events, such as hail storms, tornadoes, and sudden dust or rain storms, often provide little warning, making it difficult for building owners or caretakers to secure structures in time, leading to potential damage and increased costs for both property owners and insurance companies.
Innovation Solution
An automated computerized system that uses multiple sensors around a building to detect weather conditions and receive weather alerts, allowing a master controller to proactively execute protocols to secure protective devices like shutters and awnings before a weather event occurs, and revert them once the threat has passed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If remote control technologies are used to control window blinds, lights, and windows, then building owners can remotely control aspects of the home, but the system requires that a person be aware of the localized danger despite being removed from the area
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically detecting weather conditions through sensors and executing protective protocols without requiring human awareness or intervention. The building protection system monitors weather data, determines when protective measures are needed, and automatically activates shutters and other protective devices, eliminating the need for remote human control while maintaining ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring weather conditions through multiple sensors and using this information to automatically trigger protective protocols. The sensors provide real-time feedback on weather status, which the control system processes to determine when to activate or deactivate protective measures, ensuring the system responds appropriately without requiring human awareness of localized dangers.
2Extent of automation
If self-closing windows with rain sensors are used, then windows automatically close when rain is detected, but they purely react to the sensing of rain that is already occurring and cannot take into account other types of weather events
Solution Approach 1:
The system achieves universality by using multiple types of sensors to detect various weather conditions including rain, wind, hail, and other severe weather events. The control system processes data from different sensor types and executes appropriate protective protocols for each weather condition, enabling the system to respond to multiple types of weather events rather than just rain, thereby increasing adaptability while maintaining automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively activating protective measures when weather conditions indicate an impending severe weather event, rather than merely reacting after rain has already occurred. The multiple sensors detect early signs of various weather events, allowing the system to close shutters and activate protections before the full impact occurs, providing advance protection against different types of weather events.
3Reliability
If multiple sensors are positioned around the building to establish a perimeter, then the system can detect weather conditions proactively, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies segmentation by dividing the monitoring function into multiple independent sensors positioned around the building, each responsible for detecting specific weather conditions or environmental parameters. This segmentation allows the system to achieve reliable comprehensive weather detection through distributed sensing, while the modular architecture manages complexity by making each sensor and control unit independently functional and replaceable.
Data Source
AI summary
An automated, computerized, method of pro-active building protection from weather condition damage involves: receiving a weather alert indicating a particular weather condition will be occurring within an area encompassing a perimeter about a building established by multiple sensors positioned around the building; in response to the weather alert, automatically executing a specific protocol to cause at least some actuators connected to protective devices of the building to change at least one protective device from a non-protective to a protective position; receiving a signal that is one of: a) a cancellation signal that the weather alert is no longer in effect, or b) an indication from at least some of the sensors that the particular weather condition is no longer endangers the building; and in response to receipt of the signal, automatically signaling the at least some actuators to return the at least one protective device to the non-protective position.