If you thought smart cars were a great invention, wait until you check out smart curtains.
According to a new press release, research team at the University of California, Berkeley, developed curtains and other materials that move in response to light, with no batteries needed.
The research team, led by Ali Javey, associate professor of electrical engineering and computer sciences, developed these "smart curtains" by layering carbon nanotubes onto a plastic polycarbonate membrane to create a material that moves quickly in response to light.
The nanotubes absorb light and then converts it into heat. Then, the heat transfers to the polycarbonate membrane's surface. The plastic then expands in response to the heat, while the nanotube layer does not, causing the two-layered material to bend.
Javey said that the curtains are so serious that even the light from a flashlight is enough to generate a response.
The material they created while doing the experiments were dubbed "smart curtains," and they could bend or straighten in response to the flick of a light switch.
"We envision these in future smart, energy-efficient buildings," said Javey. "Curtains made of this material could automatically open or close during the day."
The researchers said that other potential applications include light-driven motors and robotics that move toward or away from light, the press release reported.
Check out the cool video below of the "smart curtains!"
