Tag Archives: canopy

Solar-powered umbrella canopies are inspired by acacia trees

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As we continue to find ways to harness natural energy and power, we’re seeing a lot of concepts for products that can use solar energy for general use. Solar panels are slowly becoming a must-have for those trying to live more sustainably, but it still has a long way to go. We’re seeing several products that use solar energy in public settings too, although a lot of them are still in the conceptual stage or at least prototypes stage and may not yet be ready for general consumers. But at least, it’s a good start.

Designer: Samuel Wilkinson

Ecacia is a tree-like structure that’s based on one species of the acacia tree that grows in eastern and southern Africa. It is basically a huge solar-powered umbrella canopy that not only provides shade for people in public places but can also power nearby public amenities or even charge electric vehicles. There are 708 monocrystalline solar panels embedded in the roof of the umbrella to capture solar power. It can also be plugged into a grid.

In keeping with the tree concept, each umbrella is seven meters wide and the roof is timber-lined with a faceted nonagonal shape. The trunk is made from steel with aluminum cladding and comes in two sizes: 6.7 meters or 5.2 meters tall. There are also four programmable LED lamps that gives off some light to the surrounding areas at night. Eventually, future prototypes will also have a cooling mist function so that public areas that are experiencing hot weather can have a temporary respite when passing through the umbrella canopies.

The Ecacia can work as a stand-alone structure or as part of a cluster in parks and other public areas. It is designed to be both a structure for solar capture as well as a source of relief for public urban areas. The prototype was built together with start-up Solar Forma and is also designed to be easy to install. It can also withstand winds up to 160 kilometers per hour for those areas that may also experience extreme weather at times.

The post Solar-powered umbrella canopies are inspired by acacia trees first appeared on Yanko Design.

This foldable + deployable canopy for mobility scooters was designed to protect you from the rain

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Mobility scooters have become pretty popular in the countryside these days! They’re pretty easy and effortless to zip around in, and not to mention much simpler to manage hence reducing the risk of injury from over-excursion. They make completing your everyday errands fun and swift! But one feature that most of these nifty scooters miss is – integrated rain protection. And, this is where Scooterpac steps in. The Scooterpac is a retrofittable and deployable rain canopy designed especially for mobility scooters.

Designer: Nyker Design

This handy folding canopy can be attached to any mobility scooter – irrespective of the brand – to provide shelter from the ever-changing weather elements without causing any structural or permanent change to the scooter. Most of the existing canopies on the market are rigid and centered around a specific scooter, however, the Scooterpac is a unique bolt-on solution that can be deployed as and when needed. An innovative multi-stage folding mechanism allows the canopy to be attached and removed whenever required.

Integrating Scooterpac to your mobility scooter is an extremely simple process. You simply remove its protective cover and move the frame into position – at the top of the scooter. You can then pull down the windscreen, and secure it to the front protection panel. You then proceed to pull out the sides and zip them across the scooter. The canopy is now ready to use! You can enter the scooter, by unzipping it from one side.

The designers worked extensively with textile manufacturers to create and design custom soft materials that are reliable, premium-quality, and completely waterproof. When it came to designing the Scooterpac – safety was something that was highly focused upon. Since the Scooterpac employs a mechanism with huge levers, it was essential to ensure that product does not pose any risk of injury. International compliance regulations for finger traps and pinch points were referenced, to ensure that the product causes the minimum amount of damage to any user.

The Scooterpac is a nifty modern-day solution that protects you from the moodiness of the weather, and it does so without causing any permanent changes to your beloved mobility scooter.

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This ultra-light, portable canopy automatically inflates in just 3 minutes to give you instant shelter anywhere

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It takes roughly 3 minutes to make a packet of instant noodles… which is also the same amount of time it takes for this instant inflatable shelter to set up. Meet Aeri, an inflatable canopy that you can carry anywhere inside a backpack, and inflate in 3 minutes with the press of just one single button.

Aeri helps you effortlessly set up a canopy or an outdoor shelter in an instant. Designed to be used for recreational outdoor use, Aeri can easily be carried to the beach, campsites, the park, or even your backyard. It uses a four-pillar arch design that provides the perfect shelter against sun, wind, and rain, and its entirely inflatable design runs on a rechargeable air pump that can be operated independently by a single person with zero assistance.

The patent-pending inflatable shelter fits into a moderately sized backpack, and when unfolded, can comfortably provide a 10ft x 10ft shelter to an entire family or a group of 5-6 people. Its UV-blocking fabric works wonderfully against the sun, creating a shaded sanctuary against harsh sunlight, and the fabric’s even waterproof, making Aeri ideal for rainy weather too. While Aeri doesn’t come with metal supports like traditional tents or canopies, it makes up for that with a clever arched architecture. The arched pillars create a rigid support structure that stays stable even in windy conditions, and if things get too out of hand, Aeri’s built-in tether system lets you hook it to the ground.

Given our natural need to look for shelter, Aeri lets you carry your own instant canopy or pavilion with you no matter where you are. Perfect for congregating within or even lounging under, Aeri guards you against the elements while outdoors, and a nifty zip-up side wall even gives you privacy or extra shade when you need it. Folding it down is as easy as setting it up, and can be done entirely by a single person. The entire shelter then fits into a nifty satchel that you can carry on your back or stash in your car. Each inflatable Aeri shelter comes in 3 color options and with its own lightweight rechargeable air pump, ground stakes, a tether system, a zippable side wall, a carrying backpack, and even a 1-year product warranty. It takes all of 3 minutes to set up and is entirely hands-free once you activate the pump… so go ahead and make those instant noodles while your outdoor shelter automatically self-assembles!

Designers: Alex Laetsch & Niko Cangemi

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $299 (40% off). Hurry, exclusive Deal for YD readers only! Only 5 left.

Aeri – the Go Anywhere, Do Anything Outdoor Canopy

The Aeri is an ultra-light, versatile, portable shade that inflates in 3 minutes.

1-person setup

Sun, Wind or Rain? No Problem

Aeri blocks 98% of the sun’s rays (UVA + UVB), is water-resistant, and designed to stay put even on windy days. Included stakes keep it grounded even when the wind really picks up.

Instant and Easy to Setup

With Aeri, you are just one person and 3 minutes away from durable protection from the elements.

Go-anywhere Portability

Easily carried in the included backpack tote at half the weight of traditional canopies.

Do-anything Versatility

Perfect for any outdoor event where both shade and trunk space are at a premium.

Beach Days

Camping

Backyard Parties

A Closer Look at Aeri

Click Here to Buy Now: $179 $299 (40% off). Hurry, exclusive Deal for YD readers only! Only 5 left.

Canopy Sensus case adds backscreen and side touch to iPhones (hands-on)

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Canopy Sensus iPhone case hands-on

Canopy promised a whole new world of smartphone control with its Sensus iPhone case in the fall, and we've at last had a chance to gauge how well it works here at CES. If you'll recall, it delivers 10-point touch input across the back and sides that lets apps add interaction without blocking the screen -- think of the PlayStation Vita's back touch and you've got the idea. That theoretically sounds great for gamers, but we'd like to see how well it works outside of a dedicated console.

In practice, the case isn't much different in dimensions to a standard protective iPhone case, if a little chunkier along the base. The whole thing locks in to the iPhone 4's connector. although there's still another port to charge through there. The case also has integrated apps attuned for the blind, with Braille entry possible using all those multiple touchpanels. We've got a quick tour of how it all works after the break and you can expect to land this summer, where pricing will be somewhere between $59 and $99.

Mat Smith contributed to this report.

Gallery: Sensus case hands-on at CES 2013

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Canopy’s $39 Sensus gaming case protects your iPhone 4 / 4S, adds plenty of new touch sensors

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DNP Sensus adds additional input to iPhones for touchy feely gamers

There's no doubt that smartphone accessories can get expensive, so how about a case that doubles as a gamepad? Billed as "protection with a purpose," Canopy's Sensus case aims to do just that. While there are several peripherals that add keyboards and joysticks to smartphones, Sensus goes one step further by adding touch input to a device's entire outer surface. The case's sensors recognize an additional ten touch responses, including controls on the sides and back of a device similar to the rear touchpad on a PS Vita. The focus with Sensus is to provide its users with unique touch input combinations that avoid taking up precious screen real estate. Most likely due to its uniformed design, Sensus is currently only being offered for the iPhone 4 and 4S; the outfit is taking pre-orders at $39 a pop, with shipments expected to begin in the first quarter of 2013. If you'd like to get a better feel for what Sensus has to offer (we know, we know), check out its demo video by visiting the source link below.

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Canopy's $39 Sensus gaming case protects your iPhone 4 / 4S, adds plenty of new touch sensors originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Oct 2012 21:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Canopy Lets You Gaze at the Bright, Morning Sky – While You’re on the Subway

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Whenever I want to spend some time alone to mull things over, I trek off to this park I like, find a bench, and literally just stare off into space. There’s just something relaxing and comforting about an overlooking mountain view that puts my mind (and heart) at ease.

Unfortunately, not all of us have the time to take regular trips out of the city (or even to a city park) just to calm our minds. But thanks to design students Matt Batchelor, Amitra Kulkami, and Emma Laurin, your commutes are about to become more relaxing.

Canopy Concept

They came up with the Canopy concept, which uses a curved display to show an animation of the sky or surface landmarks as the train or subway you’re riding in passes them. Think of it like a sun roof of sorts, only the digital kind. Though the prototype appears to use some sort of projection system, the concept calls for large, flexible electrophoretic e-paper displays.

Canopy Concept1

Mass transit operators can also choose to monetize on the added comfort by adding unobtrusive digital ads that interested commuters can check out by scanning the ad’s QR code.

It’s definitely a bright idea that will give people more things to look forward to for their long, dark underground commutes.

[via PSFK via Dvice]