California-based startup Travelmate unveils self-driving luggage.
Travelmate, a startup from California, has unveiled its first prototype of self-driving luggage during the 2018 edition of the popular Las Vegas Consumer Electronics Show. The smart baggage can be controlled via a smartphone interface and can navigate obstacles on its own.
Travelmate’s Self-Driving Luggage Is Right Out of a Sci-Fi Movie
When everything revolves around smart cars, smartphones, and smart gadgets, it doesn’t come as a surprise to hear about a suitcase following you around as though it has a mind of its own.
Introducing Travelmate, a smart self-propelling and self-driving luggage designed and developed by the California-based startup company with the same name. With Travelmate around, you will no longer have to push around or carry your bag because it can do it on its own.
Totting AI-based self-driving technology, Travelmate will be able to follow you around wherever you. According to Maximilian Kovtun, the company’s CEO and founder, the robotic suitcase is capable of keeping its owner’s pace and can achieve a top speed of eleven kilometers per house. Kovtun added that:
This is really a robot which follows you around.
Control-wise, the robotic luggage can either employ its computer vision technology in order to follow or to navigate around obstacles. Alternatively, the self-driving luggage can be paired with a smartphone application which you can use in order to move the robotic suitcase pretty much like an RC car.
Travelmate Versus Competition
Although Travelmate’s self-driving suitcase is a breath of fresh air, it’s not the only tech company to have developed this kind of smart device. To win the customers on its side, Travelmate will have to wrestle with ForwardX’s facial recognition-powered self-propelled suitcase and Modobag’s ride-on behemoth.
Wrap Up
According to Kovtun, the self-driving will be up for grabs starting with February. As for the retail price, the California-based startup estimated that such a smart device would probably cost somewhere around $1,500.
Image source: YouTube/Travelmate
