ShadeCraft’s SUNFLOWER Recreates Outdoor Spaces Through Technology and Luxury Design

Los Angeles-based robotics company ShadeCraft (https://www.shadecraft.com) first unveiled the SUNFLOWER, described as an elegant “smart” outdoor parasol, at CES 2017. Fast-forward one year, SUNFLOWER announced its pre-sales at CES 2018, and is now available for consumers online at https://www.shadecraft.com/product.

Recipient of the prestigious Gold Prize at the 2017 IDA International Design Awards, SUNFLOWER’s modern shape and dramatic design beautifies any outdoor space, providing a striking way to enhance any urban landscape plan.

As the world’s first robotic shading system, SUNFLOWER tracks the sun and connects consumers to the Internet of Things (IoT) through artificial intelligence (AI) integration and voice activation features. The 10-foot high robot and design award winner uses a multitude of sensors to collect data, operate autonomously and enhance the user’s experience in real time. For the first time, design conscious homeowners will be able to reduce clutter outdoors with SUNFLOWER’s integrated audio, voice, connectivity, device charging and autonomous movement features that require no assistance.

SUNFLOWER’s premiere audio sound and voice experiences are enhanced by Harman/Kardon’s impeccable audio and far-field voice input technologies. The system will enable users to communicate with popular AI assistants, and allow SUNFLOWER to be utilized as an intercom solution for indoor/outdoor communication in the home. It could also enable hospitality venues to interact with their guests with on-demand voice ordering functionality. The implications are limited only by the imagination.

Founded in 2013 by award-winning designer and entrepreneur Armen Gharabegian, ShadeCraft is a robotics and technology platform based in Los Angeles. The company’s mission is to improve human life outdoors through robotic technology. ShadeCraft's unique design paradigm is to combine industrial design and engineering in a seamless way to produce products that have an emotional connection to the consumer. A seasoned entrepreneur, Gharabegian is focused on changing the way consumers think about living in their outdoor spaces.

On his decision to launch SUNFLOWER first, Gharabegian explains, “We felt that in order to introduce consumers to the concept of robotic objects co-existing in their environment, we needed to establish an identifiable and iconic object. Although we have developed a whole series of robotic solutions for shade and other functions, with more to be announced in the near future, we believed that SUNFLOWER meets the customers’ needs and desires.”

ShadeCraft designed the robotic umbrella to move in relation to the sun as a natural flower does. SUNFLOWER follows the circadian rhythm as the robotic parasol follows the sun from East to West.

Gharabegian explains, “Ironically, as we were developing the functional aspects of the robot, it was a natural and logical decision to protect the most sensitive aspects of our robot within the shaded area and away from the sun. This is the way a natural sunflower has evolved, protecting its genetics from the sun and keeping it in the shade, allowing it to grow.”

Gharabegian has been revolutionizing the AI industry since 2012. His vision is to change how consumers think about living in their outdoor areas, from how they consume entertainment or handle home security, to providing them the ability to charge USB devices anywhere – at the beach, a campsite, or the backyard.

Gharabegian’s team is dedicated to creating solar-powered, outdoor products that connect people to the Internet through AI integration, bringing everything seamlessly outdoors in an aesthetically appealing way with robotics. Nature remains at the core of all design inspiration at ShadeCraft.

He comments, “We believe that nature has a very evolutionary process to adapt to the environment and evolve accordingly. Although biorobotics is a broadly used term, we learn from nature as it enhances the environment outdoors for mankind.”

ShadeCraft clearly benefits from Gharabegian’s decades of combined experience in design and engineering. The award-winning artist and sculptor is also known for the limited edition, handcrafted Maximillian Chair, described as “the perfect chair,” made in honor of his son.

The smart home product market is estimated to reach the $14 trillion mark by 2022. Under Gharbegian’s leadership, ShadeCraft is dedicated to improving human life outdoors through its robotic concepts, first with SUNFLOWER and soon other products for both the general consumer, B2B and public sectors.

ShadeCraft is truly changing the way that people live and interact outdoors through its patent pending technologies. The company will soon unveil new smart innovations that will continue to recreate the way consumers live outdoors, improving their lives by combining luxury design with technology, connectivity, safety and entertainment.

“The business landscape around us changes constantly. Technology also grows at an exponential pace, allowing us to dream bigger and fulfill some of our dreams in ways we could not imagine years ago,” comments Gharabegian.

As Gharabegian and his ShadeCraft team continue to dream big, we will all soon benefit from product innovation designed to improve, enhance and beautify our surroundings and the way we experience the outdoors.

Article by Nicole Goesseringer Muj

总部位于洛杉矶的机器人公司ShadeCraft（https://www.shadecraft.com）首次在CES 2017展会上展示了Sunflower，其被称为优雅的“智能”户外遮阳伞。在快速前进的一年后，Sunflower宣布将预售CES 2018，现在可通过 https://www.shadecraft.com/product 在线购买。

荣获2017IDA国际设计大奖大奖的金奖，Sunflower的现代造型和引人注目的设计美化了户外空间，为城市景观规划提供了一种引人注目的方式。

作为世界上第一款机器遮阳系统，Sunflower通过人工智能集成和语音激活功能追踪太阳并将消费者和互联网连接起来。这个10英尺高的机器和设计者使用多种传感器来收集数据，自主操作并实时增强用户体验。这是第一次，房主借助Sunflower集成的音频、声音、连接和无需任何帮助可以自主设备充电和自动移动功能，首次有意识的减少户外杂波。

Harman/Kardon无可挑剔的音频和远场语音输入技术加强了Sunflower的首播音频和声音体验。该系统将使用户能够与AI助手进行通信，并允许Sunflower作为家庭室内/室外通信的对讲解决方案。它还可以使酒店的服务场所与客人进行语音预订功能互动。只有想不到没有做不到的。

由获奖设计师、企业家Armen Gharabegian创建于2013年的ShadeCraft是一个位于洛杉矶的机器技术公司。该公司的使命是通过机器人技术改善户外生活。ShadeCraft独特的设计模式是将工业设计和工程无缝结合起来，生产与消费者有着情感联系的产品。作为一名经验丰富的企业家，Gharabegian专注于改变消费者对户外生活的看法。

在他决定推出Sunflower时，Gharabegian解释说：“我们认为，为了向消费者介绍共存于坏境中的机器人的概念，我们需要建立一个可识别且标志性的物体。尽管我们已经开发出了一系列用于遮阳和其他功能的机器人，并且在不久的将来会有更多的消息公布，但我们相信Sunflower可以满足客户的需求和愿景。”

ShadeCraft设计了机器人伞，以便像花一样跟着太阳移动。 Sunflower遵循昼夜节律，跟着太阳从东到西自主移动。

Gharabegian解释说：“具有讽刺意味的是，当我们正在开发机器人的功能方面时，保护我们机器人最敏感的部分在阴影区域并且远离太阳是一个自然且合乎逻辑的决定。这是天然向日葵进化的方式，保护它的基因不受太阳的影响，并保持在阴凉处，使其生长。“

自2012年以来，Gharabegian一直致力于改变人工智能行业。他的愿景是改变消费者对户外生活方式的看法，从消费娱乐或处理家庭安全方式，到向他们提供在任何地方，比如海滩、营地，后院等为USB设备充电功能。

Gharabegian的团队致力于开发太阳能供电的户外产品，通过AI集成将人们与互联网连接起来，通过技术以一种美观的方式将所有的东西无缝地带到户外。大自然仍然是ShadeCraft所有设计灵感的核心。

他评论说:“我们相信自然界具有适应环境并相应发展的演化过程。尽管生物技术是一个广泛使用的术语，但我们需要从自然中学习，因为它为人类提供了户外环境。”

ShadeCraft在Gharabegian几十年的设计和工程经验中受益匪浅。这位屡获殊荣的艺术家、雕塑家也以限量版手工制作的Maximillian Chair而闻名，其被称为“完美的椅子”，是为了纪念他的儿子。

据估计，到2022年，智能家居产品市场将突破14万亿美元大关。在Gharbegian的领导下，ShadeCraft致力于通过机器智能概念改善人们的户外生活，首先是Sunflower，然后是普通消费者、B2B和公共部门的其他产品。

ShadeCraft通过其正在申请专利的技术真正改变了人们在户外生活和互动方式。该公司很快推出新的智能创新技术，继续重视消费者户外生活方式，通过将设计、技术，连接性，安全性和娱乐性相结合，改善他们的生活。

“我们周围的商业环境正在不断变化。技术也以呈倍数增长，它让我们能够以多年前无法想象的方式做出更大的行动来实现我们的一些梦想，“Gharabegian如此评论说。

随着Gharabegian和他的ShadeCraft团队继续追寻梦想，我们很快将从旨在改善、增强和美化我们的环境以及体验户外活动的产品创新中受益。

文章由 Nicole Goesseringer Muj 所著