Core77

A Solar-Powered Cooling and Utility Umbrella

The sun's hot rays power a fan, on-board charging capacity, a GPS locator and more

By Rain Noe - August 23, 2016

in Tech | Entrepreneurship | Product Design

While umbrellas are for rain in NYC, in Saudi Arabia's Mecca they provide respite from the blistering sun. Each year millions of Muslims visit Mecca for their haj pilgrimage, and after years of volunteering there, scientist Kamel Badawi has envisioned an object to serve the needs he's observed.

First and foremost it's an umbrella, providing the basic need for shade. But it goes a step further by providing a breeze, delivered by a fan located in the apex of the underside, powered by solar panels atop the umbrella.

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Badawi figures he can wring enough juice out of the solar panels to power more, so he's also outfitting the umbrella with USB ports to charge external devices, a built-in flashlight, and a GPS system that would communicate with the user's smartphone.

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The GPS is no extraneous gimmick, by the way; the annual haj is one of the largest regular gatherings in the world, with two to three million folks all in the same place, and having a way to pinpoint one's location would be helpful for family members who have become separated. This year, in fact, Saudi Arabia announced an intention to roll out GPS-enabled bracelets for all Mecca attendees.

As of now the Kafya, as Badawi and business partner Manal Dandis call the umbrella, is only a prototype. The pair are seeking funding, preferably from an international company, for development. They recognize that if successfully executed, the Kafya will have plenty of buyers beyond Mecca. "In order for our product to spread worldwide, we have to avoid marketing it as an exclusive haj product," Badawi told The Express Tribune.

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Arun Kumar

6 years ago

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i WANT TO BUY THIS PLEASE LET ME KNOW ON 8110909091

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Marwa Kb

8 years ago

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good news
...

To all the friends and followers who
want to have (Kafya) Smart umbrella now you can all purchased through the
following website you can also buy umbrellas and donated for pilgrims in Mecca
or the prayers in the Al-Aqsa mosque to be distributed in the month of Ramadan

A special offer on the first 15
umbrella

with our corporation we can reach and serve
and meet the needs of pilgrims ....

kafya is more than just an umbrella

#kamel_badawi #kafya

https://www.launchgood.com/project/smart_kafya_umbrella

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Nout Hogesteeger

8 years ago

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First I thought, an umbrella with solar panels, weird combo, wouldn't have thought of that.

Then I saw it's purpose and was like "hey this could work, might be a little heavy though"

Then I remembered how busy it is in Mecca during that pilgrimage (at least what I get from the pictures) and how annoying an umbrella like that would be, try unfolding that amidst a crowd thousands upon thousands, or worse; a lot of people would unfold one.

Nevertheless, I still like it :) I hope it goes in production, It could work for plenty of places, imagine having this on the beach for instance.

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