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curiosity of children in that they will approach engineering like natural system thinkers – they are curious about how things connect, yet they don’t carry the same burden of bureaucracy or complex thinking that can come from industry. While adults might approach homelessness as a social policy challenge or a logistics problem, Rebecca’s response was human and immediate: people are cold; they need warmth. From there, she worked backwards to design a technical solution. It’s this clarity of purpose, rooted in empathy, that often distinguishes young inventors. By encouraging children to apply creativity to real-world issues, The Primary Engineer has helped to create an engineering culture that values social impact as much as technical skill. And this is something engineers at any stage of their careers can take from it. In an industry that is constantly shaped by efficiency, cost reduction, and risk mitigation, the ability to reimagine a problem from first principles is a valuable skill. Engineering a better future In June 2025, Thales announced that it would produce and donate 150 of Rebecca’s solar-powered blankets to six homeless charities across the Glasgow region. The first 35 have already gone to Homeless Project Scotland, supporting 31 temporary accommodation beds. For Rebecca, it’s a remarkable achievement. But for the wider engineering community, it’s also a case study in how the profession can nurture fresh thinking. For the engineers who helped her bring it to life – and for those inspired by her story – it just goes to show that sometimes, the most original engineering thinking starts long before the job title ‘engineer’ is ever earned. And that engineering is so much more than wearing a hardhat.
The resulting design was practical and thoughtful. The blanket evolved to become a sleeping bag that is lightweight and foldable which allows it to be folded into a backpack for easy transport. It is powered by a compact solar panel and battery pack, each roughly the size of a smartphone. The design includes adjustable heat settings, and it prioritises user safety – a critical consideration for any device in direct contact with the body. Thales’ prototype team began by breaking down the system into three core components – the heated blanket/sleeping bag, the solar panels, and the battery pack – and based their calculations on an average eight-hour sleep cycle. They then developed a control circuit capable of automatically switching between on and off states, based on temperature readings, to conserve power and extend the battery’s life. The team also created a custom outer frame using CAD software, which holds the solar panels securely while doubling as additional storage space. Once assembled, every element was tested for durability, performance, and safety – from breadboard trials of the control circuitry to full system-level tests of the completed prototype. The power of a young person’s perspective Rebecca’s success reflects the innate
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