Imagine you're running late for a flight, and with your big suitcase slowing you down, it can't be helped that the thought of your suitcase running on its own would be all kinds of helpful. It's not a silly idea, a company is actually making it.
Travelmate is not just a suitcase; it's more of a robot companion that follows you wherever you go. Now, you won't have a hard time maneuvering your way around the airport especially if you're running a little late, you can be rest assured that Travelmate will be always right beside you.
This intelligent robot/suitcase uses GPS and a smartphone app so you can track its movements anywhere. It's smart enough to move horizontally and vertically, and you can even put another luggage on top of it.
David Near, the brainchild of Travelmate, is currently based in San Francisco and is the CEO of Travelmate Robotics, the company behind Travelmate. In an interview with Lonely Planet, he explained how he completely understands the stress of travel, which is a major inspiration for Travelmate.
"That's especially true when your flight gets delayed or your gate gets changed," he said. "I've traveled to over 30 countries and that experience gave me the idea for Travelmate. "
"That, combined with our background in robotics, gave us the first concept for Travelmate. Since then, it's evolved into a suitcase that's meant to go almost anywhere with you. My personal hope is that it makes traveling easier and inspires people to innovate."
Other features of Travelmate include USB charging ports, a camera mount, a smart handle that turns into a portable laptop desk, 4-hour battery life when in full autonomous mode, a built-in scale, and much more. It also comes in three different sizes.
Prices start at $399 for the smallest size. The medium size model will cost $495, and the large model is around $595. Travelmate is also TSA compliant, so you won't have to worry about meeting airline cabin standards.
