New Window-Cleaning Solution for Tall Buildings

Deadline: 2019-01-08
Award: $10,000
Open to: Engineers*

At present, the window-cleaning process of tall buildings is currently too costly and inefficient and puts the workers involved in great risk of accidents.

Can you think of a new window-cleaning solution to automate the process that reduces the cost and increases the efficiency?

At present tall buildings are equipped with a BMU (Building Maintenance Unit) cradle system with two hanging jibs and a suspended platform attached to it to clean windows.

We are looking for a system that uses the currently-installed hanging jibs so the window-cleaning can be done automatically or semi-automatically in buildings taller than 20m.

The solution must consider how the electricity supply and the water and cleaning products will be. Besides, it must be safe enough (prevent falling accidents) and be more efficient and sophisticated than the current systems.

The adaptability of the window-cleaning solution to the greatest number of façades and its simplicity when prototyping will be positively assessed.

Evaluation criteria

Lower cost of the system.
Cleaning efficiency.
Manufacturing simplicity.
Adaptability to different façades.
Safety of the system.

The winner of the challenge will receive 8,000 USD, and the best solutions of Round 1 that also submit the complete solution for Round 2 will share 2,000 USD.