London, July 14 : Had Raj Kapoor and Nargis been alive today, and in the prime of their youth, they could well have used water-activated umbrellas on street lamps for their Pyar Hua Ikraar Hua number.
A Russian designer Mikhail Belayev has made these water sensor-activated umbrellas for the lamp posts, reports Daily Mail.
When the Lampbrella's sensors detect rainfall, the umbrellas are automatically deployed with a canopy of 7ft 2in in diameter and installed at a height of 6ft 5 in from the ground. In India, of course, you need to keep them at a greater height to keep the canopy away from louts and thieves.
If left unused for two minutes, the umbrella will close again.
A lampbrella can comfortably shelter 10 to 12 people, a quarter of the space of what a DTC bus shelter in Delhi provides.
Belyaev, 27, from St Petersburg, Russia, said: 'Once I was driving on a street in St Petersburg and saw the street lamps illuminating people trying to hide from the rain.
'I thought it would be appropriate to have a canopy built into a streetlamp.
'When it starts raining, the sensors send a signal to the electric drive, which opens the umbrella at a safe low speed.
'The umbrella then closes when a 360-degree motion sensor doesn't ‘see' any people under the canopy for 2 minutes.'
Belyaev said he may opt for an alternative button operated system as it is currently in its concept stage.
The freelance Russian designer has already had interest in his product from a number of companies, and he hopes to begin production work on the Lampbrella in the next few months.
Belyaev added: 'I'd like to see Lampbella installed all over the world - but it is necessary to solve all aspects of its safety first.
'I think it would be useful almost in every country, but especially in rainy England perhaps - I'd love to see it in London.
'From the comments I have received, people really like it, I didn't expect good such reaction.'
