heat protection through reflection
A garment that can help workers thermoregulate more effectively so they can continue to work safely and efficiently in outdoor environments.
CoolAnt is a speculative garment that can help workers thermoregulate more effectively so they can continue to work safely and efficiently in outdoor environments. Laborers working in the field often continue to exert themselves during the hottest hours of the day in the direct sunlight, despite extreme conditions. Our goal is to help individuals and communities adapt to the changing climate instead of disrupting natural processes and behaviors that are central to communities.
The team was inspired by nature for the design of CoolAnt. Heat dissipation strategies were influenced by the internal reflection of the Saharan silver ant hairs, which allow them to forage during the hottest parts of the day, and the convection processes of the fins of bottlenose dolphins. The unique scaly exterior of the pangolin was the model for the garment’s construction, which supports articulation and unrestricted movement.
Michael Brigham, Chloe Collins, Julia Jaffe, Michael Kowalski , and Elena Sabinson; Award of Merit Recipients
Group research and design project for the Biomimicry Global Design Challenge, Advisor Professor Saleh Kalantari, Cornell University, Spring 2019
The CoolANT is a thermoregulatory vest that work through passive heat transfer. By creating a garment that can easily fit over clothing,