Process (Proposal)

Both hand-sewing and sewing machine will be used in making this lighting umbrella. 

To first explain the structure of the umbrella, the top plastic edge of the umbrella will be implemented a photoresistor. To protect and also make sure to expose its sensing surface to the lights, the photoresistor will be planted inside a clear, plastic tip. 

This photoresistor will be activated through connecting an Arduino micro, which would be implanted under the handle of the umbrella, along with the power source battery for the LEDs. As mentioned, the handle is where it stores the power sources for both input photoresistor and output LEDs. The battery will be connected with a conductive string, and this string will be travelling up towards the internal metal frames of the umbrella. 

Underneath the waterproof outer surface of the umbrella and in each folding between the moving metal frames will be where each LEDs will be sewn in the umbrella cloth. The expected amount of LEDs being implemented will be 16 (8 LEDs in each upper folding and the lower folding under the umbrella).

Depending on how dark the surrounding is, the photoresistor will read the amount of light it is getting as to turn on the LEDs. When I attempted to make this by sacrificing a real, small and foldable umbrella, I realized that I needed the knowledge to customize small plastic parts (handle and the umbrella tip) myself before even sewing in the LEDs.