How would you like a suitcase that carries itself to the airport? And what about a bag that acts less like baggage and more like an automated assistant? Well, meet Travelmate – the world’s first robot assistant and autonomous suitcase and easily my favourite travel gadget ever.
I watched the video of this during the week and I was hooked. I want one! I know I’ve said this before, but this is the best travel gadget ever!
This little beauty combines artificial intelligence with adaptive learning to navigate through people and obstacles. This means it could eventually follow you to the airport without your input.
“Travelmate will usher in a completely new era of technology and consumer gadgets. Travelmate uses elements of artificial intelligence and a variety of sensors to navigate through crowds, obstacles and uneven terrain with ease,” claim its creators, Travelmate Robotics and Arrow Electronics.
“Most people with modern lifestyles can’t live without a computer or smartphone. Now, in a couple of months, people won’t be able to live without a robot assistant that helps you 24/7.”
And Travelmate is not just a suitcase. It’s the first multi-purpose robot to hit the market.
“If you’ve ever wanted a robot assistant, then Travelmate is the closest approximation of that fantasy so far,” said Travelmate Robotics.
Travelmate has an anti-theft device which locks its wheels automatically when it senses that someone is trying to steal it. And if it does go missing, GPS tracking will allow you to quickly find it. It also always knows how much it weighs, so you’ll never have to pay excess baggage fees.
And there are a range of apps and features on the way, such as:
- being able to use Travelmate as a security robot when you’re not home
- having a personal health monitor that detects changes in your movement, temperature and heart rate
- playing games
- the ability to act as your personal camera man, following you and recording holiday videos.
You can pre-order your Travelmate from Indiegogo from US$499