Piezoelectric Roof Tiles

He s holding the electronic components used in the tiles.

Piezoelectric roof tiles.

The piezoelectric effect is the key the ability of certain materials to generate an electrical charge in response to applied mechanical stress otherwise known as pressure is the key to the success of kinetic tiles. Piezoelectric materials are materials that produce an electric current when they are placed under mechanical stress. Ilan stern a gtri senior research scientist shows piezoelectric tiles that will be used to create a lighted outdoor footpath at the nasa kennedy space center s visitor complex at cape canaveral florida. The piezoelectric process is also reversible so if you apply an electric current to these materials they will actually change shape slightly.

Each glass tile is a pixel in the pathway s mosaic imagery of earth mars the moon and the international. When you step on the load bearing glass tile it compresses the piezoelectric element creating an electrical charge that lights up the cavity s 125 leds in the entire footpath about one thousand glass tiles light up in various colors.