A 12-year-old schoolgirl has designed a solar-powered blanket for the homeless, winning a prize in a UK engineering competition.
Rebecca Young, from Kelvinside Academy in Glasgow, said she thought of the invention after seeing people sleeping on the city streets.
Tasked with producing a design to address a social issue, she began researching sleeping bags and backpacks to see if there was a way to help protect those living rough from the cold.
She created a solar-powered blanket to help the homeless
The engineering firm Thales has now developed a prototype based on her plan for a heated blanket that is integrated into a backpack and powered by the sun. They are hoping the product will be further enhanced and patented for production.
Young’s design was one of 70,000 entered into the Primary Engineer
Pahnotsha on January 3rd, 2025 at 16:11 UTC »
Similar youth innovations like the waterproof sleeping bags in the UK have already helped hundreds of homeless people. This solar blanket could be another game-changer.
smallangrynerd on January 3rd, 2025 at 15:41 UTC »
This comment section is full of human tar pits
Immediate-Lecture323 on January 3rd, 2025 at 15:13 UTC »
Can we design homes for the homeless, maybe?