2024 - The AquaShield

The AquaShield Glare Manager is an innovative solution designed to address the issue of glare management on water surfaces, particularly in spaces adjacent to open restaurants or waterfront venues. By utilizing diblock polymers on a silicone base, this system effectively traps sunlight upon contact with the water’s surface, mitigating glare and enhancing the ambience of the surrounding area. The floating design ensures flexibility in deployment and minimal impact on the environment.
The AquaShield Glare Manager is designed to float on the water’s surface, ensuring ease of installation and adaptability to various water bodies. The lightweight construction and buoyant properties of the materials used allow for effortless positioning and repositioning as needed. The AquaShield is anchored to the lake bottom, allowing boats to pass through and causing its modules to temporarily separate before returning to position.
The material used for the AquaShield was inspired by Cicada wings. Cicada wings’ intricate nanostructure helps them reflect light. In addition, the nanopillars, which are smaller than the wavelengths of visible light. The light that hits the wings gets trapped in the nooks and crannies between nanopillars.
To mimic the wing of one of these fascinating critters, materials scientist Daniel Salatto from Stony Brook University used a polymer often used in packaging to create tiny structures shaped like pillars on a silicon base. The shape is informed by the Aponogeton distachyos, a fast-growing aquatic herb with glossy oblong leaves that float on the water’s surface. It is also indigenous to South Africa.