Artificial skies, heliodons and solar simulators

Natural light has two components, and each needs its own instrument. Designed and built in Piacenza, Italy.

Direct light

Heliodons

A heliodon sets the correct angle between the light beam and the model for any latitude, date and time: the tool for sunshading studies and solar access analysis.

Diffuse light

Artificial skies

An artificial sky reproduces the skylight as it reaches ground level, under standard or statistical sky conditions: daylight factor measurement and overall daylighting assessment.

The two combine: our full domes accept an integrated heliodon.

Papaya with Tulip

Collimated irradiance

Solar simulators

For research laboratories that need controlled, collimated irradiance rather than a visual simulation.

Solar simulators

Daylighting analysis on physical models

Beta nit designs and builds instruments that reproduce natural light in the laboratory, so daylighting performance can be observed and measured on a physical scale model — not only predicted in software.

Within each family the range is wide. Our heliodons run from manual instruments built for teaching and fast design iteration to robotic systems that position heavy models automatically and repeatably. Our artificial skies run from compact mirror boxes for rapid daylight factor readings to full domes over four metres across, large enough for a group to stand inside and judge the light by eye.

Every instrument is designed and manufactured in Piacenza, Italy. We supply standard configurations and build custom systems to laboratory specification, and our devices are in use at universities, research centres and design practices worldwide.

In use at

See the installed base

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