Have you ever lost your umbrella or left it somewhere? It happens all the time, and it seems that almost everyone I know lost their umbrella during their lives. I recently discussed this with a friend. She suggested that we need to reinvent the GPS umbrella detection device. Of course, it is possible, I mean, we have the technology, however, it may not be all worth putting on such a device on an umbrella, which you purchased for only $ 15.00, because the GPS device or sensor connected , can cost almost as much as you see. However, let me discuss this potential probability and see if we can come up with something?
First, I would like to note that umbrellas have a large surface area in the ribs, which can act as an antenna, so the power component may not need so much juice. Speaking of electrical energy, how about a small solar battery that is in a small calculator, it is possible, but “oh wait, we use umbrellas during bad weather, and therefore the sun most likely does not shine. The calculator's small solar panels work without real sunlight, with artificial lighting, such as lamps or lights on a bus, train, or subway.
Yes, it will keep things charged, but you will also need a battery, because most people put umbrellas in the closet and it's dark there, then there is no more juice after the battery disappears. Another problem is that at least three satellites are required to triangulate GPS, but when your umbrella is in the doorway in the closet and does not have any juice, it will not be able to communicate with the satellite. Yes, but he can communicate with your mobile phone using an active matrix RFID chip and a pinger device. Well, in that case, what are we looking at along the path of the sensors?
Well, the active matrix of the RFID chip, perhaps around 1.45 plus a battery, is about the same, plus a few strips of metal antenna material moving along the frame and the edges of the umbrella — another 2 to 3 dollars. Well, we just added about six dollars to the umbrella, so it probably won't work for umbrellas for $ 15, but for an expensive designer umbrella it will make sense and won't let you lose it. Therefore, I hope that if you are a consumer goods engineer, please consider all of this and think about it.
