Automated window mechanism with motor lockdown

A method of preventing unwanted movement of a sliding panel of a window with an automated window mechanism having an electric motor with a positive lead and a negative lead, the method comprising:

• placing the automated window mechanism into a locked state in which locked state the electric motor and sliding panel are stationary;
• while the automated window mechanism is in the locked state, monitoring for an external force applied to the sliding panel;
• and
• in response to the external force, grounding the positive lead and the negative lead of the electric motor to a same electric potential, thereby rendering the electric motor an impediment to the external force.

A system, comprising:

• an automated window mechanism having an electric motor and being attached to a sliding panel of a window and being configured to open and close the sliding panel of the window, the electric motor having a positive lead and a negative lead, the automated window mechanism having a locked state in which locked state the electric motor and sliding panel are stationary;
• and
• a monitor for an external force applied to the sliding panel while the automated window mechanism is in the locked state;
• a processor;
• and
• a memory storing computer-readable instructions that cause the processor to perform acts, the acts comprising:
• in response to the external force, grounding the positive lead and negative lead to the same electric potential, thereby impeding the external force from moving the sliding panel.