An inventor has created a smart backpack that automatically opens an umbrella when rain starts falling, keeping users dry without using their hands.
Current Concept, a solo inventor, built a prototype backpack that detects rainfall and deploys an umbrella in seconds. The device solves the common problem of getting caught in unexpected rain while carrying bags or holding items.
The invention is a regular backpack modified with electronics that pop open an umbrella when water hits a sensor. It keeps the user’s head dry without requiring them to stop or fumble with an umbrella.
Current Concept, an independent inventor, built the entire system himself. He documented the project online, showing how he combined off-the-shelf parts with custom-built components.
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People often forget umbrellas or struggle to open them when their hands are full. This backpack removes that hassle by reacting to rain automatically, making it useful for commuters, parents, or anyone caught in sudden showers.
The system runs on an ESP32 microcontroller inside the backpack. A small rain sensor on the umbrella detects water by completing an electrical circuit. When rain is detected, a servo motor presses the umbrella’s open button, just like a thumb would. The umbrella extends fully while the user walks hands-free.
The device works with standard automatic umbrellas, meaning no special umbrella is required. Users can go about their day normally—carrying coffee, holding a phone, or pushing a stroller—while staying dry. The motor system sits outside the umbrella mechanism, so it can be reversed if needed.
Closing the umbrella remains tricky. Automatic umbrellas have strong springs that resist folding. Current Concept solved this by using a high-torque motor with a worm gearbox, which provides enough power to reel the umbrella back in. The system uses Dyneema rope—a material strong enough to handle over a thousand pounds of tension—to pull it closed. A servo-operated clutch disengages during opening so the umbrella extends fully.
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This project shows how creative thinking can turn a simple idea into something useful. While not yet a commercial product, it demonstrates that practical automation is possible with basic electronics and 3D-printed parts. It could inspire similar hands-free solutions for other everyday problems.
