Intelligent technologies can be added or removed according to the customer's needs even after placing the furniture in the field thanks to their easy accessibility and placement in the compact boxes. In addition, they can run without power, because the bench is limited in functionality with its own photovoltaic panel and battery, where it stores energy to the inventory to cover operational needs when the sun is off. In case of mounting more sensors and other elements with higher electricity consumption, the bench can be connected to the electrical network to function as a hybrid system with the panel.
Emphasis was placed on the design, which should be interesting and yet not blatantly alert, as the creators want the bench to fit into the surroundings. Therefore, the CTU UCEEB team prepared an original mold and a mixture of high-quality concrete to produce the presented prototype. Instead of classical steel reinforcements, they used technical textiles made of carbon fibers saturated with polymer matrix. The bench base beneath the ground surface has been designed with a significant proportion of recycled material.
The original shape of the carbon reinforcement was tested in the laboratory and protected by copyright as well as the shape of the bench. These stronger and more durable materials are not subject to corrosion and the thickness of the concrete can be considerably smaller. Thanks to the material and the original molding, the bench is thus much lighter and thus easier to transport than if it were made of conventional concrete with traditional reinforcement.
Besides the Urbis trade fair, the bench should be on display at several locations in Prague this year, where three pieces will be installed as part of the Technology Transfer for Smart Prague project (supported by the Prague Pole of Growth Operational Program).
Contact person: Jana Simčinová