The invention is a hybrid of an umbrella and a drone, controlled by a remote. Most of the parts for the quadcopter are 3D-printed.
Umbrella The developer says handheld umbrellas are a thing of the past. He thinks 2024 is the year for umbrellas that don’t need to be held. They should float above the user and protect them from rain.
Currently, this practical concept needs improvement.
How it works What it lacks
To build it, the YouTuber used a store-bought yellow umbrella, a GPS module, and several 3D-printed parts. Most of the structural components were made from lightweight carbon fiber. The engineer explains all of this in a presentation video on his channel. He also said this is far from his first attempt to make a flying umbrella. Previous versions failed, but the inventor didn’t abandon the idea.
Unfortunately, the inventor currently pilots the umbrella with a two-handed remote control. That makes it impractical for trips to the store, since you couldn’t carry your purchases.
The model also can’t be folded for indoor use or for transport.
Testing revealed another flaw. At the slightest gust of wind, the umbrella would escape from its owner and break, the Daily Mail reported.
The YouTuber-engineer says he’s planning an improved version that can autonomously track its user and reliably shield them from rain.
“In the future, I could attach a camera to the bottom of the umbrella and write a program that would track my location and move my umbrella accordingly,” he said.
