A 12-year-old schoolgirl from Glasgow, Scotland, has designed a solar-powered heated blanket to help protect homeless people from freezing temperatures.
Rebecca Young, a student at Kelvinside Academy, came up with the idea after seeing people sleeping on the streets during winter. Wanting to make a difference, she created the concept of a Portable Heated Blanket that uses solar energy to provide warmth at night.
Her invention stood out among more than 70,000 entries, winning the UK Primary Engineer competition. The achievement also attracted the support of engineering company Thales UK, which helped turn her idea into a working prototype.
The blanket is made from waterproof, flame-resistant thermal material and can be folded into a lightweight backpack, making it easy to carry. Flexible solar panels charge a small battery during the day, providing up to eight hours of heat at night. It also features a temperature control system that automatically adjusts the heat to conserve battery power.
Following the success of the prototype, production was expanded, allowing the blankets to be distributed through homeless charities and shelters across Glasgow to support people in need.
