Solar panel powered Smart Palms are popping up in various locations in Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
The Smart Palm project, created by Didea Media in association with UAE telecom provider Du, provides a wide range of services; all free of charge.
The six metre tall stations are powered by a total of 12.8 square meters of monocrystalline solar panels, called solar cell “leaves”, boasting up to 21% efficiency.
A major feature of the structure is it acts as a free Wi-Fi hotspot that works in a range of 53 metres radius, allowing up to 50 users access to the Internet at any given time
In addition to Wi-Fi access, the Smart Palm also has touchscreen displays showing news, community and weather information. The weather service can announce weather warnings to beachgoers through a loudspeaker system.
The Smart Palm’s recharge station feature eight to twelve points capable of charging various cell phone and tablet devices up to two and a half times faster than a regular charging point.
At night, the underside of the leaves provide lighting via high-efficiency LED’s.
A digital user-guide called Smarty assists users in making the most of the services offered; including taking “selfies” with its inbuilt camera.
It also features a shaded “relax point” where devices are charged; more commonly referred to as “seating”. But as the Smart Palm is crammed with so much whizz-bang high-tech gear, we guess it just wouldn’t be fitting to call it what it is.
The Smart Palm may also incorporate some form of energy storage, but details and specifications don’t appear to be available.
The project took just ten months from conception to installing the first unit. The first Smart Palm “grew” in Zabeel Park in April and the latest installation was commissioned at Umm Suqeim Beach early this month. All up, 53 locations across the Emirates will have Smart Palms installed during 2015, for a total of more than 100 units.
Each Smart Palm is remotely monitored by a central control center, 24/7.
The creators hope to expand the project throughout the Gulf region and then around the world.
