In the heart of one of the most subject to earthquakes in the world, Japan is revolutionizing the seismic safety of homes thanks to surprising technology: Houses that “float” thanks to the compressed airdesigned by the Air Danshin Systems company. A visionary idea that uses a quick lifting system to physically detach houses from the ground during an earthquake, avoiding direct contact with shocks.
How the anti -seismic system works
This futuristic technology rests on a principle as simple as it is effective: An air bag located under the house It remains deflated in normal conditions. But at the first sign of an earthquake, detected by advanced seismic sensors, the system is activated in less than a second. The airbag swells with extreme speed and lift the home of about three centimeterskeeping it suspended over the ground until the end of the shocks.
After the seismic event, the pillow gradually deflates, allowing the house of reposition gently on its basewithout any structural damage. This automatic and almost instant response represents a radical turning point in anti -seismic prevention, especially if integrated with Sophisticated Japanese seismic detection networks.
The real test of the fire for this system arrived in 2021, during a violent earthquake of magnitude 7.3. The homes equipped with Air Danshin technology they remained perfectly intactwhile other structures in the surroundings have suffered damage. This success confirmed the effectiveness of innovation, which offers a concrete alternative to traditional seismic isolation systems, often more invasive and expensive.
Accessible solution and low impact: perfect also for existing buildings
One of the great advantages of this technology is that does not require invasive structural interventions. It can be installed both in newly built and existing buildings. The estimated cost for the retrofit is around 3 million yen (about 37,000 dollars), a figure much more contained than conventional anti -seismic systems. In addition, the entire mechanism is designed to work independently, with minimum and long -lasting maintenance.
Despite its numerous advantages, the system has some limits: it is currently indicated above all for low buildings, up to three floorsand requires regular ground to work properly. In addition, the very first shocks of an earthquake – which can be the most violent – could precede the trigger of the system, representing a criticality to be improved.
Despite this, the “floating” houses represent a Evolutionary jump in anti -seismic design. In a country like Japan, where living with earthquakes is a daily reality, this technology could soon become a standard for housing security.
