A Warm and Exciting Midpoint Update on the Hot Hands Prototype!
Where we left off
Our Howden ProtoTeam began by exploring a creative idea for a heated umbrella handle. The concept came from a pupil who wanted to make cold and rainy days more comfortable. The team has been meeting regularly since the start of the project and has already developed two early prototypes. These first versions helped us understand how a heating system could be placed inside a handle in a safe and practical way. The aim has always been to create something easy to use while keeping safety and comfort at the centre of every decision!
The Prototype So Far
The team has now completed two stages of the build. The first prototype focused on proving the basic idea. It allowed the team to check whether a heating element could realistically fit and function inside the handle. This early version gave them our first picture of what might work.
The second prototype built on everything learned from the first. The team explored how to place electronic parts within the handle and which materials would support both strength and comfort. They looked closely at how to house the heating element the power supply and the controls. These steps have helped them understand how heat moves through the handle and how the shape and size affect how it feels in a person’s hand.
They now have a clear direction for the design. The materials and electronics are being reviewed and improved. The team is actively shaping the next version so the handle can be safe comfortable and ready for real conditions.
Challenges Encountered
The Howden team have faced some real engineering challenges. One of the biggest relates to waterproofing. The product must work in rainy weather which means the electronic parts need to be protected while still being easy to access and use.
Another challenge is finding the right balance of heat. The handle must feel warm and comforting but must also be completely safe and pleasant to hold. They are also thinking carefully about how the parts can be assembled sealed and maintained when everything must fit inside a compact space.
These challenges are ongoing but the team has been testing and reviewing solutions each week. Every lesson helps them move closer to the final design!
Next Steps
Over the next few weeks the team will continue meeting weekly to refine the design. Their priorities are to strengthen waterproofing improve the casing and confirm the materials and components that will be used in the final model. They aim to create a prototype that is presentable functional and ready to share with the pupil.
The goal is to have a completed prototype ready in early June. This timeline will allow space for testing final adjustments and preparing visuals and explanations before the final update in July. The team of graduate engineers from Howden remains committed to keeping the pupil at the heart of the project and looks forward to presenting the finished version to show how their original idea has grown into a real engineering solution.