Official News page 9

GEEK TOY OF THE WEEK: DROID LUGGAGE

by Hazed

Putting wheels onto suitcases made it possible for women to travel without a hunky man around to carry the luggage, but what we really need is luggage that follows you without having to be tugged along. Anyone who has read Terry Pratchett's Diskworld novels will immediately be thinking of the magic trunk that trots after its owner on lots of little legs (not to mention eating people who try to steal the contents).

Well, we may not be about to get sentient suitcases, but reports from Russia indicate that a battery-powered, motorised suitcase which automatically follows its owner may be available to buy in a couple of years.

A report from Russia-Infocentre says that this mobile, smart luggage will track a "sensor-card" carried by its user, and the card will sound an alarm if the suitcase gets lost. The case will feature a gyroscope, ultrasonic and infrared sensor technology, and onboard software allowing it to handle sloping surfaces and steps. The battery will last two hours, and it will come with a built in multi-national charger. Best of all - it will feature a "water resistant hull" able to hold 30kg of cargo.

The suitcase creators are going to check whether there is demand for their invention before getting it into production to go on sale in 2009. I would have thought there'd be no question - providing it works and is reliable, who wouldn't want one? Well, the price might put off all but the wealthiest travellers; it should sell for about 49,000 roubles, which is about US$2,000.

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