UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON, LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM. The Booster Brolly is Vodafone’s eco-friendly handset-charging umbrella that can keep people dry and at the same time charge your mobile phone. It can also charge other USB devices, a micro-antenna and a signal booster.
Dr. Kenneth Tong of University College London and Vodafone developed Booster Brolly to provide the best experience for festival-goers and campers. It has flexible solar panels that can charge phones in three hours. It also provides cellular and internet connectivity for campers out in the wilderness.
The umbrella’s canopy has 12 lightweight solar cells that have the ability to convert light into electricity. Any current generated is transferred to the umbrella’s handle where it is safely stored in high capacity rechargeable batteries. In addition to that, it can be used to charge a mobile or any USB device directly through a USB port.
Other notable features of the Booster Brolly are the LED flashlight and the hands-free mobile phone docking station. Since a 3G signal-boosting micro antenna can be charged by the umbrella, it can provide the maximum signal strength to users when they are making or receiving calls and browsing the internet. Of course, this feature will only benefit users who are subscribed to Vodafone’s services.
The umbrella charger has good aesthetics. It is not heavy nor huge that will annoy its users. In this regard, it is an eco-friendly innovation that can be easily sold to the masses.
| Invention | Booster Brolly |
|---|---|
| Organization | University College London, London, United Kingdom |
| Researcher | Dr. Kenneth Tong & Vodafone |
| Field(s) | Mobile Technology, Green Products, Battery Technology and Charging, Eco-friendly Chargers, Wireless Connectivity |
| Further Information | Mobiledia |
