Specifically, the December 2017 smart luggage bans from airlines such as American and Delta have forced travelers to leave suitcases with non-removable batteries at home. On May 1, smart luggage company Bluesmart ceased manufacturing operations, citing similar reasons.
A smart suitcase. Yes, a smart suitcase.
Away, one of the few remaining smart luggage brands out there, sells bags with removable batteries, including the Bigger Carry-On with Pocket, which I reviewed and loved. The battery ejects by clicking it down, which prompts it to pop up, like bread ejecting out of a toaster.
I hope that smart luggage companies can find a way to work within the guidelines, because traveling with a suitcase that featured easy access to a battery for charging my smartphone, proved incredibly convenient. Its portable battery features dual USB ports, so I could charge both my iPhone and my Bluetooth headphones at the same time.
The suitcase features an expandable structure, four wheels with metallic bearings and tires and a strap to attach another bag to the large handle on top of your suitcase. It costs $435 on Kickstarter and it will cost $595 after the Kickstarter campaign.
Airwheel use the same app for smart wheelchairs, including a separate remote control handset instead of a wristband. This is a really interesting use case, as the user of the wheelchair can have it drive to them, meaning they are more independent. Cool!
Up until 2017, smart luggage was still new, and no airline batted an eye on its legality. But in 2015 and 2016, a few incidents started to appear with lithium batteries in electronics. In 2015, a couple of the largest airlines banned hoverboards on airplanes because of possible links between spontaneous fires and lithium-ion batteries. And in 2016, the TSA (Transportation Security Administration) banned Samsung Galaxy 7 phones on all airlines because they had a production issue that resulted in spontaneous fires.
This caused a significant shift in airline policies, and now airlines are extra cautious about any built-in lithium batteries, including smart luggage. In 2017, American Airlines banned all smart luggage with non-removable batteries, which went into effect on 15. January 2018. All the other major airlines soon joined the ban, and now smart suitcases with non-removable batteries are useless.
Away luggage has been around since 2015. The company was founded by two former colleagues, Stephanie Korey and Jennifer Rubio when they had an idea to make a new suitcase that was durable, good-looking, modern, and not too expensive. Their products were a hit right from the start. Now, when anyone says smart luggage, Away luggage is the first thing that comes to mind.
Smart tech has been invading every aspect of our lives. First, there was the smartphone: the humble mobile phone that has slowly incorporated computer functions, a camera, touchscreen, apps, and more. Then came the invasion of smart tech into our homes. Most houses in the U.S. now have an Amazon Echo or Google Home and have at least one device that is operable via an app on the smartphone. It was only a matter of time when it would spill over to our travels. Lo and behold, smart luggage bags has now been invented.
The best part about these smart luggage bags? They look as good as your top-tier sleek luggage bags. In fact, travel bag giant Rimowa has dipped its toes into the waters of smart luggage with the introduction of its Electronic Tag series. But to properly expand your options, scroll down for our list of smart luggage bags to consider as your next investment.
Rimowa has joined the legion of smart luggage bags with the introduction of the Rimowa Electronic Tag. As its name suggests, the suitcase comes with an electronic tag, allowing its users to check in their luggage from home, via the Rimowa smartphone app. For now, only a select few airlines are partnered with Rimowa for this feature (Lufthansa and Eva Air). Upon your online check-in, the electronic ink tag appears on the screen display and you can simply drop your luggage off with security at the airport.
This hard-shell smart suitcase redefines the way you carry and protects your belongings. Spaciously designed and equipped with fingerprint-locking technology, this smart carry-on keeps your goods safe and easily accessible.
The iDsonix Multi-Device 4port Charging Station allows you to place your smartphone on top if its non-slip surface, which means that you can include this device in your luggage and pull it out as needed. Whether you are in an airport terminal or you are hopping in an Uber on your way to a hotel, you can grab this iDsonix Multi-Device 4port Charging Station and charge your phone.
Arlo Skye is a solid contender in the smart luggage market, with the design chops and quality to challenge Away. I appreciate that their power banks features USB C and A ports, something Away is lagging on. Their bags also compare favorably to Away when it comes to weight, actually coming in a whole pound lighter for the carry-on, which weighs just 7 pounds!
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That built in tech could be just one thing, or many. The field, and available features have changed quite a bit since smart luggage first became popular back in 2016, but some common examples of this technology include: Phone App Integration, GPS or Bluetooth Location Tracking, Built-in Scale for self-weighing, Remote Digital Locks, and a Power Bank for your mobile devices.
While smart luggage started out strong, airline regulations have quashed the wild west of smart luggage start ups. The difficulty of integrating technology into a suitcase, while making batteries removable as airlines now require, has seen an end to many of the early features like location tracking and remote locks.
Abstract: Besides the traditional personal transport, Airwheel rolled out another smart luggage SE3mini designed specifically for frequent flyers. Yes, compared with the SE3, SE3mini is smaller and for suitable for daily trips and short travels.
Airwheel sticks to the principle of "quality first, service first, continuous improvement and innovation to meet the customers" for the management and "zero defect, zero complaints" as the quality objective. To perfect its service, Airwheel keeps providing updating products, like the SE3mini smart robotics suitcase.
As the third smart suitcase, Airwheel SE3mini fully functional drag-along suitcase is more smaller than SE3. It is also a combination of a specially designed bag and an electric scooter with aluminum alloy rod and three small yet durable wheels. The special rod design not only increases the strength, but also reduces the shake during riding or dragging. Moreover, the small three wheels are cheery picked, with special treads and excellent grip performance, so that travelers can ride it on various road conditions.
As usual, Airwheel SE3mini motorized rideable luggage is powered by rechargeable lithium battery pack which is located inside the base. The battery has an USB port to make it compatible with the charger of mobile phone and other daily electronics. Though the size is small, SE3mini can let you enjoy long enough journey without effort. And if the charge runs out, it works just like a normal wheeled suitcase.
SE3mini is designed not only for the young, but also for the mass, as it is easy to operate, with one-button to realize auto-expanding and free conversion between riding and dragging. Of course, the weight is lighter than the other two suitcases, if dragging. If necessary, SE3mini smart suitcase will accompany with you at night, as it adopts colorful water lights to make you safe and stunning in the evening.
Stylish smart suitcases are a new way to solve some long-standing travel hassles such as running out of power on your mobile devices, losing your luggage, and going over the baggage weight limit. But are they just a gimmick, or here to stay?
A smart suitcase does everything a dumb suitcase does, but it includes tech features such as USB charging, location tracking with an app, and the ability to weigh it through an app. A typical smart suitcase costs more than a regular suitcase, but it is generally well-made and looks sleek and appealing in addition to the tech benefits.
*Update December 2017: Travelers should take note that from 15 January 2018 some US airlines will require smart luggage to have a removable battery that can be kept in the passenger cabin if the luggage needs to be checked. Find out more here.
Access to the batteries and removable batteries in smart cases is gaining importance, particularly since some airlines have elected to ban smart charging suitcases if the batteries cannot be removed. (Read more about this here) 2ff7e9595c
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