#HTE

A Self-Deploying Umbrella For Your Car

This sounds like a Steven M. Johnson Bizarre Invention, but it’s real–and actually appears useful, particularly if you live in a snowy clime. The Lanmodo is a powered device that you stick onto your roof after parking. Hitting a button on the remote causes the object to unfurl its canopy, covering your car from bumper to bumper. It’s strong enough to deflect a falling brick; it keeps your car interior cooler in hot sunlight; and an optional features causes it to vibrate intermittently, shaking snow off of itself while keeping it off of your car.

The Lanmodo has been successfully crowdfunded on IndieGogo, with $53,033 raised at press time on a $10,000 goal. They expect to begin shipping them this May.