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Travelmate Robotics Suitcase Autonomously Follows Its “Owner”

By Mike Richard Dec 19, 2019 12:02 AM

Gone are the days of wheel-less rucksacks and old school duffel bags. Today’s smart luggage — with Bluetooth technology, GPS tracking, and backup battery stations — is all the rage. But, Travelmate Robotics is taking the idea a step further with the world’s first fully autonomous robotic luggage line.

We’ve previously covered bleeding edge smart luggage and even rideable scooter luggage designed to get you to your gate as quickly and effortlessly as possible. Travelmate’s suitcase combines the best features of both into a single product. Its biggest selling point is its mobile app integration which includes a Follow Me feature. The system uses advanced AI technology (similar to that found in Starship Technologies’ food delivery robots) to track and follow its owner like a dog. Large Omni wheels and tiny, multi-directional pivot wheels allow it to traverse almost any terrain (at up to 6.75 mph), stop on a dime, and turn 360 degrees as necessary. Built-in sensors detect and avoid obstacles such as furniture, walls, and people while the integrated circuitry is smart enough to optimize the suitcase’s movements to work through crowds seamlessly.

Travelmate works in horizontal or vertical modes. The company promises the electric motor is totally silent, yet powerful enough to push other suitcases for you in vertical mode or carry them in horizontal mode. The included smartphone app provides for additional customization, like enabling auditory cues or changing the LED lighting scheme. A magnetic locking system is tied to your fingerprint for bulletproof security. The heavy duty battery pack is good for up to four hours of live use or 100 hours in standby mode (i.e. when pulled like an ordinary suitcase). The pack is also removable and can be charged wirelessly or used as a backup for other mobile devices via two standard USB ports. Surprisingly, all the required tech to make the Travelmate tick occupies less than 5% of the total interior volume.

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We have to agree that it sounds like another overhyped, but ultimately under-delivered concept. But, as of January 2017, the project received more than 1600% of its anticipated funding on Indiegogo. What’s more: the videos look promising indeed.

The suitcase is currently available for pre-order in small ($399), medium ($495), and large ($595) from Indiegogo. Expected to ship June 2017.

Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He’s kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South… Read Full Bio

5 Tips If You’re Traveling With Cigars: I Learned No. 2 the Hard Way

Wood, Hardwood, Accessories

Traveling with cigars can be challenging if you’re not prepared. The lack of preparation can lead to your favorite cigars getting smashed from inadequate storage, or they can peel because they weren’t kept at the proper temperature, among other issues. Sometimes you do all the right things, and still come away shaking your head.

I’ve been smoking cigars for two decades now, and it’s not beneath me to admit that I’ve made plenty of cigar travel mistakes in that span, and as recently as two weeks ago. You live, you learn, and hope you don’t waste a stogie on the next trip. My most recent cigar travel mistake is what inspired me to share these tips. Sure, there are plenty of articles out there offering similar advice. But this list comes from a cigar smoker and writer who has visited six countries and about a dozen states in the last year alone. And in that time, mistakes were made, and lessons were learned.

The art of adventure packing: packing light but effective

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If you are like me, you grew up with stories of adventure. Whether you were fans of fictional adventure like Indiana Jones and Alan Quartermain, or you loved the true-life accounts of Ernest Shackleton and David Livingstone, there is a deep pull to venture into the unknown. The desire to abandon the Mon-Fri 9-5 in search of something deeper. You could spend your time thinking about hopping a boat and sailing the seven seas like the pirates of old. You could look up at the elusive peak of a mountain and believe it begs to be summited. You could stare into the depths of a jungle and wonder what treasures it hides beneath its canopy. No matter what kind of adventurer you are, you need to be prepared for whatever the world throws at you. I have climbed Salkantay Peak and explored the jungles of Peru. I have scanned the plains of Africa in search of a giant cat (the prospect of which was much more comforting than the actual sighting and wondering if I was far enough away). And I have disappeared into the secluded areas of Svalbard. One thing that remained constant was the need for the right pack.

Here is what I learned when packing for my adventures.

Savannah Beyond the Postcard

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Savannah is one of those cities that seems almost too easy to like. The live oaks are dramatic. The Spanish moss does exactly what it is supposed to do. The brick sidewalks buckle in all the right places. The houses look like they were designed by people who understood proportion, shade, and the value of a proper front step. Even the light seems to arrive with better manners than it does in most places.

I have a built-in advantage when it comes to Savannah. We have family there, so we have been back several times, not just once for the checklist version of the city. I have also done a photography workshop there, which is a terrific way to learn any city. You get up early, stay out late, and pay attention to alleys, doorways, ironwork, reflections, and the way a city changes when the tourists are still asleep.