



FIRST PRINCIPLE: HARVESTING WATER
Around the world, 768 million people don’t have access to safe water, and every day 1,400 children under the age of five die from water-based diseases. The solution to this catastrophe lies not in high technology, but in harvesting atmospheric water vapor. Each pillar is comprised of two sections: an exoskeleton and an internal mesh. The two layers act as a scaffold for condensation, and as the droplets of dew form, they follow the mesh into a filter basin at the base of the structure. Also, the geometrical shape of the two layers enables easy rain water harnessing in the case of rain.
SECOND PRINCIPLE: GENERATING ENERGY
Piezoelectricity, also called the piezoelectric effect, is the ability of certain materials to generate an AC (alternating current) voltage when subjected to mechanical stress or vibration, or to vibrate when subjected to an AC voltage, or both. It is useful in generating energy even in the lack of sun and suits extreme environments. This low-cost solid-state wind power generator turns the flexing of an omnidirectional shaft directly into electricity, using piezoelectric materials. A tall flexible stalk is surrounded with many embedded piezoelectric discs that are alternately sandwiched in-between rigid backup plates. These piezoelectric structures (toroids) compress and stretch when flexed in any direction, converting any motion directly into electricity with no intermediary mechanical generators, transmissions or propellers. A weighted wind-capturing tip can sustain the energy output from a single gust of wind by the continuing oscillation of this inverted pendulum after the gust fades. In light winds, the power extraction would be maximized while remaining robust in high winds.
EASY PACK AND GO FEATURE
The Lifebrella was designed to be an easy pack and go unit to suit the circumstances of refugees and war zone residents. It is designed from PVC casing carrying all of the fabric inside it and covered with the metal base acting as the battery unit and the water tank that stores both energy and water. The LIfebrella has a knob on its surface that turns to unlock the inner mechanism. The knob slides down the unit, forcing the canopy arms out through the top of the shaft. The flexible plastic arms are bent as they exit the shaft, pulling the canopy with it. When fully open, the knob is turned back to lock the unit open.