Hi guys

I saw this today, how does it follow a person around? How does it track a person and follow the person?

https://travelmaterobotics.com/

 

Hi guys

I saw this today, how does it follow a person around? How does it track a person and follow the person?

https://travelmaterobotics.com/

It doesn't. Ten minutes after you leave it behind you some thief is going to grab it. This has to be the dumbest idea ever.

The way it likely works it to talk to your cell phone. Sensors in your phone can know when you are walking, moving left, moving right or stopped.

 

It doesn't. Ten minutes after you leave it behind you some thief is going to grab it. This has to be the dumbest idea ever.

haha great mind think alike

The way it likely works it to talk to your cell phone. Sensors in your phone can know when you are walking, moving left, moving right or stopped.

As I understand, any IMU will eventually accumulate enough error that the luggage can't follow the person (or the phone) in the correct path. Unless it can correct it with a GPS. But it looks like this is for indoor and outdoor use. How is the luggage going to correct the accumulate error? Thoughts?

 

As I understand, any IMU will eventually accumulate enough error that the luggage can't follow the person (or the phone) in the correct path. Unless it can correct it with a GPS. But it looks like this is for indoor and outdoor use. How is the luggage going to correct the accumulate error? Thoughts?

My guess it doesn't. It won't work in real life situations. I suppose the user could correct from an on the phone.

I can see this a a huge safety hazard to other people too.

 

Your phone has GPS, and this robotic suitcase has GPS as well. Query the phone's location, subtract from the suitcase's location, and voila.

 

Those who have read Terry Prachetts series "Discworld" will recognize the luggage which follows its owner everywhere. And I do mean everywhere,over mountains , through oceans etc. It actually has little legs which allow it to go anywhere. Now implement that and I might just buy one!

 

Your phone has GPS, and this robotic suitcase has GPS as well. Query the phone's location, subtract from the suitcase's location, and voila.

As I understand, indoor GPS is either very flaky, or it could be at least a few meter error if there is a lock.

 

There are many places that GPS does not work and the thieves will be there.

 

There are many places that GPS does not work and the thieves will be there.

Regardless of how it follows you,if it is not attached to you, someone is either going to steal it or trip over it.

 

As I understand, indoor GPS is either very flaky, or it could be at least a few meter error if there is a lock.

Older GPS receivers often had trouble indoors; modern units, not so much. None of my phone GPS's has had any problem, nor the Adafruit GPS breakout boards I've bought.

I suppose this could be an issue, but then again it might not be. Clearly the GPS and the phone communicate, since the website says it can be detached from the luggage and put on/in other things to make them trackable.

Got any better ideas for how this might work, besides GPS? I don't.

 

Older GPS receivers often had trouble indoors; modern units, not so much. None of my phone GPS's has had any problem, nor the Adafruit GPS breakout boards I've bought.

I suppose this could be an issue, but then again it might not be. Clearly the GPS and the phone communicate, since the website says it can be detached from the luggage and put on/in other things to make them trackable.

Got any better ideas for how this might work, besides GPS? I don't.

As I understand, I could be wrong, the modern units usually achieve a faster locking with A-GPS, better accuracy with wifi database in the cloud, and sensor fusion with IUM etc. But still, with the help of these, still very difficult to get sub meter accuracy indoor.

I am very curious and interested on how it can follow a person that well (within 1 meter?), if the demo is true, I am guessing something else if helping the luggage to follow/track the user. But I don't know what.

 

Older GPS receivers often had trouble indoors; modern units, not so much. None of my phone GPS's has had any problem, nor the Adafruit GPS breakout boards I've bought.

I suppose this could be an issue, but then again it might not be. Clearly the GPS and the phone communicate, since the website says it can be detached from the luggage and put on/in other things to make them trackable.

Got any better ideas for how this might work, besides GPS? I don't.

A GPS is not going to be accurate enough to detect slight changes in direction of the master.

 

<SlightlyOffTopic> but close to being on topic. An old friend of mine when facing divorce was tired of her husband lying to her. She placed a small program on his cell phone which would transmit location. She placed the software on her laptop and at any given time could tell you exactly within a few feet where that phone was. I love Marg as she is one of the most devious people you could ever meet. He would call her in the evening and claim he was still at the office with a client while she had him at a local bar. Her husband was not the brightest guy out there and never figured it out. At that point while she no longer cared she was amused at his locations. However, knowing exactly where that phone was never a problem. My phone better knows where it is than I do so as long as I have my phone we both know where we are. </SlightlyOffTopic>

Ron

 

easily accessible batteries...

 

I can't see it working well in a crowded airport terminal building or railway station, i.e the very locations where it would actually be useful .

 

Notice the video promotion is in an empty airport!!

 

Check out how much money they want for these things (scroll ≈2/3 down the page). ROFL!

 

One could always just grab the handle... LOL. But great idea. A lot easier than trying to take cats to an airport.

 

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I have enough trouble keeping from tripping over those little suitcases with wheels that people drag behind them. Imagine the dangers of this little suitcase low-crawling around on the floor of a crowded airport. Not practical.

 

This is not an application of GPS.

The suitcase follows you around because Kenny Baker is inside.

He severely limits how much you can pack inside.