Inventor Builds Auto-Deploying Umbrella for the Rain

A backpack that automatically opens an umbrella may seem like a trivial convenience, but inventor Current Concept took the idea and turned it into a practical reality that’s actually rather astounding. That’s correct, he created a backpack that automatically opens an umbrella when it starts raining, keeping your hands free and your head dry with no effort on your side.

The brain of the operation is housed inside a regular backpack, thanks to an ESP32 microcontroller that constantly monitors for rain. The trigger is a rather simple rain sensor affixed to the umbrella’s canopy, consisting of a little board with copper traces that are close together when dry but become bridged by water when it rains, sending a signal to the ESP32.

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Activation occurs when enough rain falls on the sensor. The ESP32 then utilizes a servo to trigger a camera, which presses the umbrella’s built-in open button in the same way that your thumb would. And the good news is that Current Concept left the umbrella entirely alone; the motor remains outside and can be simply reversed if necessary.

While opening the umbrella is simple enough, closing it is a another issue. Automatic umbrellas aren’t known for being easy to shut down; they have a lot of spring tension. Early attempts with normal servos failed… so Current Concept resorted to a high-torque motor with a worm gearbox, which multiplies the power and prevents the umbrella from folding back on itself.

When you try to close it, a spool of quarter-inch Dyneema rope, which is incredibly strong and can withstand over a thousand pounds, begins to reel it back in. During the opening process, a servo-operated clutch disengages the spool, allowing the umbrella to fully extend. Once deployed, another servo gently nudges it to the side to get it out of your hair.

Custom work was necessary during the build, including the installation of a sliding carriage to lift the folded umbrella out of the backpack. The inventor created a handmade wooden base plate to match the curve of the backpack, stitched it all together, and locked it in place. The rest is made up of 3D-printed brackets, a cam, a clutch, and cable guides, all of which glide and tilt smoothly.
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