Robo Buildings: Pursuing the Interactive Envelope.

The article discusses the adoption of interactive envelope systems or small robots that patrol building facades, regulating energy usage and indoor conditions, in architectural projects. While these systems are fashionable and possibly advantageous, its adoption has been slow. Primary concerns of skeptical architects include worrying that operable components are magnets for value-engineering or foreseeing them being unplugged and later stripped off their buildings due to poor performance of deficient maintenance. Still there are supporters of the technology. First is that it would be easy for architects to analyze an operable shade with daylight analysis tools. Another is the solid performance of photosensors, lighting controls and solar-tracking devices.