Engineer Develops Autonomous Flying Umbrella Drone with AI-Powered Tracking

28.01.2026

Engineer John Tse has successfully developed an autonomous flying umbrella capable of following its owner and providing protection from rain and sunlight. The innovative device represents a sophisticated integration of drone technology with computer vision capabilities.

The system is built around a foldable drone platform equipped with a depth-sensing camera and powered by a Raspberry Pi single-board computer. This hardware configuration enables real-time spatial orientation, autonomous navigation, and precise user tracking.

Key technical features include:

• Depth camera for 3D environment mapping
• Raspberry Pi-based processing unit for navigation algorithms
• Autonomous flight control system
• Low-light and darkness operation capability
• Collapsible drone frame for portability

The device utilizes computer vision algorithms to detect and track the user even in low-light conditions, ensuring continuous coverage regardless of ambient lighting. The project demonstrates practical applications of autonomous drone technology in everyday consumer products.

Commercial availability has not yet been announced, though the prototype has generated significant interest in the tech community.

Source: https://www.designboom.com/technology/autonomous-flying-umbrella-follows-users-rain-sunlight-i-build-stuff-01-13-2026/

Tags: computer vision robotics Drone autonomous-systems raspberry-pi

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