During the preview of the Italian finalist project of the Solar Decathlon Middle East 2018 in Dubai, at the Microsoft House, Microsoft Italia and the Sapienza - University of Rome announced the development of the established partnership, based on years of collaboration aimed at experimenting innovative education programs. Now, this partnership is going to be further enhanced.
Thanks to the program Microsoft Azure for Research, the Sapienza team of over 50 students and PhD students can use Microsoft Cloud Computing for free to design the prototype of the home of the future ReStart4Smart, competing in the University Olympics for sustainable architecture. Furthermore, students can use virtual laboratories with high computational capabilities and design an innovative building automation system for the Solar House, relying on Azure cloud services.
Moreover, the Sapienza Team will enhance the data gathered inside the building and improve the project by integrating Artificial Intelligence capabilities through Microsoft's IoT tools and cognitive services.
ReStart4Smart takes advantage of Microsoft's most advanced technologies: for example, by means of the face recognition with cameras and sensors, it will be possible to unlock electronic locks and monitor the localization of the inhabitants of the house. The integration of the virtual assistant Cortana and the BOT services will allow the communication with a Virtual House Keeper, simplifying house management and improving its usability. The data analysis provided by the Machine Learning will allow to use technology to learn and implement predictive maintenance controls on the interconnected devices, enhancing the efficiency of the system. Finally, the project includes an experimental use of the holographic display HoloLens and the mixed reality in the design, management and maintenance of the building.
“New technologies are essential to imagine the home of the future and make it real. For this purpose, the Sapienza Team had the possibility of taking advantage of the most advanced solutions provided by Microsoft”, Eugenio Gaudio, Dean of the Sapienza University of Rome, claimed.
