An automatic umbrella has an electric motor, nose, and gear assembly which rides up or down the interior of the handle/body of the umbrella on threading/gearing on the interior of the umbrella shaft. As the traveler assembly rises the ribs hingedly connected to the traveler extend through notches or slots in the end of the umbrella, until the nose extends out the end and the ribs actually swing downwards. Motion of the ribs is controlled by a pin or guide on the side of the notch which cooperates with the shaped sides of the umbrella ribs. The nose acts to tension the canopy in the deployed position. The traveler may move due to a rotating gear engaging the threaded inside surface of a tubular body, or the tubular body may be rotated (preferably within an outer housing) and the traveler forced upward by the motion.