Sunshades

A redesigned and rebranded version of the Mollusc Nano tent we looked at in 2015, the Campo Escape M4 hits the scene as the "world's first retractable tent." Its fabric pulls back so outdoor revelers can greet the world.

If you're the beachy type, you might own a beach blanket, a sun shade, and a couple of hammocks. The Shadeeco system combines all four in one kit, that can be carried in a custom-designed backpack.

Retractable sunshades have long been used to adjust the amount of sunlight an area gets during the day, but these are usually driven by motors. Taking inspiration from the humble pine cone, engineers have now developed a shading system that can open and close automatically – no electricity required.

The boffins at architecture firm NBBJ have created the Sunbreak, an intelligent automated shade prototype that can be operated using a smartphone. It could potentially lower a building's running costs and make life more comfortable for those inside.

The Shelf is a clever car cover comprising solar cells that collect enough when parked in the sun for long periods to power the vehicle's air conditioner, tail-lights and other electronic equipment.