Drones are exciting and cool, we get it. That does not mean anything you combine with a drone also automatically becomes exciting and cool. Even if your new drone-thing is exciting and cool, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Just consider drones with handguns and flamethrowers as an example.
So I was really bemused to see reports of a Japanese inventor who decided what we really needed was a Dronebrella: the unholy marriage of drone and umbrella.
Hat’s off to the guy for getting that poor drone to fly with a parasol glued to its top, but there are a number of problems I foresee.
Other People
For this to work, it has to fly low enough to cover you. That means it could be bumping into other people with parasols and snagging on all sorts of things. So you can really only use this in an open space like a field and probably not on a beach or sidewalk.
The Wind
Congratulations, you’ve hooked a parachute to your drone. “Bye, bye drone!” you yell as a light gust of wind hurls it over the horizon. You’ll notice none of the videos show it flying outside, which is generally where you’d want to use a parasol.
The Noise
Sorry, what? WHAT? WHAAT?
The Haircut
Seriously, you can’t fly that inches over someone’s head.
Sydney Butler is a prolific technology writer with a knack for digital gadgets and a love of flying things. He's been messing with tech since the early 90s and dreams of the day that quadcopter hoverbike finally goes on sale.
1 thought on “The Dronebrella: Dumb Idea or Dumbest Idea?”
do you really think these people would make a drone umbrella that isn’t wind resistant? it is wind resistant, in the demonstration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O-iwzP9QNU) video it makes a minimal amount of noise besides a noticeable but tolerable humming and it flies a foot over the persons hair.
Drones are exciting and cool, we get it. That does not mean anything you combine with a drone also automatically becomes exciting and cool. Even if your new drone-thing is exciting and cool, it doesn’t mean it’s a good idea. Just consider drones with handguns and flamethrowers as an example.
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do you really think these people would make a drone umbrella that isn’t wind resistant? it is wind resistant, in the demonstration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O-iwzP9QNU) video it makes a minimal amount of noise besides a noticeable but tolerable humming and it flies a foot over the persons hair.