Persistent DIYer creates autonomous flying umbrella despite years of struggle - Yanko Design

"Back in early 2024, John Tse designed a flying umbrella controlled by a remote, which seemed a completely out-of-the-box idea. However, some users pointed out that the umbrella should follow the person using it, to make it more practical, come rain or shine. The hands-free option of using a flying umbrella is far more exciting than maneuvering it while walking."

"Months later, John set out to design an upgraded version of the project. The thing is essentially an autonomous drone shading you from wet or dry weather on demand. The vital addition to the rig is a tracking system loaded with a camera that comes from drone parts. That said, the build was not a cakewalk, and it took him a couple of years to achieve the intended version."

"Things started off by creating a custom frame with a central hub for the umbrella, the locking mechanism, and the hinges to have a solid structure for the camera and sensors to mount on. Most of the components are 3D printed, either made out of carbon fiber or nylon. Once the design materialized, an ordinary umbrella was mounted onto the frame, and the arms attached to the mechanism, just like a tripod. After figuring out the GPS, flight controller, Raspberry Pi function, and other electronics,"

John Tse developed an autonomous, drone-mounted umbrella that follows and shades a person hands-free. The upgraded rig adds a camera-based tracking system sourced from drone parts to enable autonomous flight and person-following. A custom 3D-printed frame with a central hub, locking mechanism, and hinges supports the umbrella, camera, and sensors. Electronics including GPS, a flight controller, and a Raspberry Pi coordinate flight and control. Early test flights revealed rotational glitches and flight anomalies that required troubleshooting. A 3D mapping approach using complex light reflection technology was implemented to detect nearby people, including in low light, improving collision avoidance.

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