Skip to main content

Would You Buy an $800 Robotic Suitcase That Follows You Around?

In the last two years, we’ve seen the sharp rise of smart luggage — ultra-modern suitcases with built-in gadgetry like Bluetooth, GPS locators, external battery packs, and integrated smartphone apps. However, one company is taking the next step toward luggage that’s so smart, it knows how and where to follow you autonomously. The question is: Do travelers even want that?

Recommended Videos

On paper, there’s a lot to like about the Ovis AI-powered Suitcase from California-based ForwardX Robotics. It’s TSA-approved and accepted as carry-on by all major airlines (so far). Under the hood, Ovis relies on computer vision to track the user’s face and body, even if the user momentarily disappears from sight. Once locked on to its owner, it “side-follows” like a puppy without any manual effort at a maximum speed of up to 6.2 miles per hour. It’s been tested in crowded environments, including city streets and outside airports, and ForwardX confirms that it works exactly as expected.

Introducing Ovis by FowardX, the World's First Vision-Powered Side-Follow Suitcase

Unfortunately, the removable battery is only good for four hours of use, and it’s so far unable to climb stairs or ride escalators. So, if you’re staring down long layovers in larger international airports, you may spend considerable time just looking for outlets to recharge the suitcase along the way.

Like most other smart luggage, Ovis connects to your smartphone via a mobile app. Built-in GPS tech allows the owner to track the bag in case it strays a bit too far for their liking. The 9.9-pound carbon fiber and polypropylene shell is also waterproof and surprisingly lightweight given all the inner-workings required to guide and move the device.

There’s no shortage of gimmicks in the luggage world. We’ve previously covered Modobag (the “scooter luggage you can ride”) and even a $20,000 bulletproof attaché case. Some would argue that so-called smart luggage is just a way to charge a premium for high-tech features that can be individually bolted on to your baggage for far less. Given that many major airlines have banned smart luggage to the point of putting some manufacturers out of business, it seems the niche industry is getting no love from anyone.

Regardless, ForwardX says the project is on track to ship in late 2018. Many crowdfunders have heard such optimistic predictions before, only to wind up disappointed, waiting months — even years — passed the promised ship date. However, Ovis captured serious attention at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2018 and the company has already raised $10 million in financing.

The Ovis AI-powered Suitcase is available for pre-sale orders through Indiegogo. The bag is expected to retail for $799, but early bird crowdfunders can score their own for $329.

Mike Richard
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Ritz-Carlton’s new yacht Luminara offers luxury cruises and top-tier dining
Enjoy all of your favorite Ritz-Carlton amenities at sea
Luminara

The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection just set sail on its newest and largest ship yet. Departing from Monte Carlo, yesterday, July 3, Luminara marks the third ship in the brand’s growing fleet.

With 226 spacious suites, each featuring private terraces, Luminara was designed for travelers who want the intimacy of a yacht with the comfort and amenities of a high-end resort. But what truly sets this ship apart is where it’s headed. Luminara will be the first in the Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection to explore destinations in Asia, Alaska, and Canada, opening new routes for the brand’s loyal cruisers.

Read more
Where you vacation could raise your skin cancer risk, says new study
New study reveals alarming sunscreen truths
Palm Beach, Florida

Most of us assume everyone knows the importance of protecting our skin from harmful UV rays, yet a new study suggests awareness campaigns aren't doing enough to protect Americans. A recently published study revealed a dangerous gap between what people know about sunscreen and how they use it, putting millions of Americans at an increased risk of developing skin cancer. Furthermore, the study found that specific beach destinations may have higher skin-damaging UV doses than others, indicating that where you vacation also weighs in on your overall risk of skin cancer.

The study analyzed over 378 million UV dose records from the European Space Agency and melanoma skin cancer rates from the World Health Organization for 168 countries. Those seeking the safest beach vacation possible should look to destinations such as Poland, Albania, and Iceland, with the lowest combined average daily UV radiation levels and melanoma skin cancer rates. Meanwhile, other popular beach destinations in Peru, Australia, and Ecuador had the riskiest UV radiation levels. In the U.S., Alaska, Washington, and Maine are the safest states for beachgoers who want to protect themselves from the sun.

Read more
Smoking near the Eiffel Tower could now cost you under France’s new ban
Think twice before lighting up in France
Eiffel tower during day

The image of a cigarette-smoking Parisian strolling along the Seine is quickly becoming more of a memory than a reality. France has just rolled out a sweeping new smoking ban that makes lighting up in many public outdoor spaces, including popular tourist spots like the Eiffel Tower, beaches, parks, and bus stops, illegal.

The new rules, which went into effect this week, are part of a nationwide effort to reduce smoking, especially in areas where children are present. France’s health ministry says tobacco must disappear from places where kids play and gather, a sentiment that most French parents, and the majority of the public, support.

Read more