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'The Hop' Takes Suitcases Hands-Free
Thanks to a new suitcase called "Hop," lugging your carry-on bag around the airport could get a wee bit simpler. Utilizing the Bluetooth connectivity in your telephone, the suitcase can wheel after its owner all on its own. The suitcase robot even tells the owner if it has gotten lost; the owner's phone will vibrate if the suitcase loses Bluetooth connectivity.
We think this is an ingenious idea, provided the suitcase can keep up with us running to catch a tight connection.
This isn't the first robot suitcase to be developed, however. Now, if only it could lift itself into the overhead compartment as well.
[Thanks to @wanderlust13 for alerting us via Twitter]
Filed under: Gear
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
vern Oct 2nd 2012 7:03PM
You'd miss every flight as slow as this guy was walking and if it went too much faster someone would find a way to have a lawsuit by tripping over it or run over someone's foot.
Olwen Oct 2nd 2012 6:59PM
Now an even easier way for people to steal your luggage.
Bob Basher Oct 2nd 2012 7:03PM
gee all a terrorist needs do is stick the controller in an unsuspecting persons bag or pocket and have them bring unsuspecting package along with them....
Patrick Oct 2nd 2012 10:58PM
The controller is your smart phone using bluetooth.
Demil Oct 2nd 2012 7:09PM
There are no people in this airport or wherever it is...and what happens on bumpy grounds and cracks in the sidewalks...yeah I can see someone having to pick this thing over every time it falls over...what a concept...and somebody actually paid for a patent and prototype and advertisment...Geeeez
katz Oct 2nd 2012 7:10PM
ha ha ha ha ha
lame
ha ha ha ha , oh my goodness
robinmt4 Oct 2nd 2012 10:34PM
I got irritated with it's speed in the videoso meandering through a busily hopping airport? And what is to stop a busy thief from just picking it up and hopping away? An audible alarm? Who can hear your phone ringing, let alone your bag calling in airports?
With constant overhead messages to "Keep your baggage in your possession at all times" I seriously doubt 'hop" will get many takers--at least, not legal ones.
I also have to wonder how much all tha technology weighs. You may not have to drag it but you still have to lift it. Also, with weight limits on checked bags and a push to limit carry-on's it won't take airlines long to institute weight limits on carry-on's too. I'ld rather drag along what I need than have too little following me like a puppy.
joe Oct 2nd 2012 7:49PM
LOL...How in the heck can this thing get through the screening of the TSA??? All the wires and electronics it must have...Bad, Bad idea
Badabing Oct 2nd 2012 8:20PM
Would like to see this demo in a crowded airport like O'Hare or JFK. And what about those uphill ramp ways some airports have. Does it have the power? In all seriousness though, if you can't pull a wheeled suitcase, you probably shouldn't even be at an airport.
walt Oct 2nd 2012 8:31PM
An idea whose time has not yet come. The fellow in the demo video seems to have arrived at 10:00 a.m. at the emptiest airport in Christendom for a flight at midnight.
Brian Oct 3rd 2012 3:07PM
Yeah right. That suitcase is years from going mainstream. It would have to go faster, even to the point of keeping up with a passenger that's running, be very accurate in following it's owner, not be confused by bluetooth from other users and be stylish. Otherwise, forget it.
chip hunter Oct 2nd 2012 8:41PM
Wet cell batteries are not allowed in the hold so i seriously doubt they would be allowed in the overhead bins because of the acid
Jane Oct 2nd 2012 8:51PM
YOUR KIDDING??? RIGHT!!!!!!
Peter Oct 2nd 2012 9:09PM
A solution looking for a problem .. I am a hands-on person .. I think most people are .. I can imagine also how heavy it would be with the motor and drive system .. and how about the power source .. when it runs down you would be lugging around the reduced sized carrying space suitcase due to the motor and drive ... and imagine heaving it up to the overhead. The whole thing is ludicrous. Then after you land you can go to the gym and work out to make up for not lugging your baggage. So silly .. one of the lamest invention ideas I have ever seen. Imagine the creak in your neck from constantly looking over your shoulder to see it if is still following you or to see if someone snatched it. And imagine running for a flight ! This must be a joke.
uhh, what? Oct 2nd 2012 9:03PM
This is just another avenue for those promises of a star trek future to fail. Not only is it a lousy execution but its "catapillar tracks" can be easily thwarted by the first screaming kid to push it over. Why wouldn't the designer put the treads at the point for the lowest potential for falling over. Say, where you would lay it down any way. ON IT'S BACK! And the size suggests the only thing it could carry is a folded up wash cloth. no way it could hold enough for a trip to anywhere with all the electronics and motors and crap needed to make it "work".
Gabrielle Oct 15th 2012 1:31AM
I think 'HOPs' genius, is wasting his precious brain time. He should be in the cellar inventing the next toy to be next tossed.
carol carlson Oct 2nd 2012 9:54PM
Can't you just see up the stairs, down the stairs, on the people mover and then the mash of humanity that you intersect with!
I'll wait for the "Next Great Invention"
fastcan Oct 2nd 2012 9:10PM
Biggest piece of garbage ever seen... slow, how about if you two pieces? have you been at some overseas airports? crowded... and how about the stairs, elevators... this piece of garbage idea will NEVER work, a dumb idea, period!
Kari Oct 2nd 2012 9:15PM
This is got to be the dumbest thing I have seen in luggage. What a total waste. I would rather roll and carry my own baggage through the airport myself, where I can keep track of it and hold on to it. Are people really this lazy? How hard can it be to hold on to your own luggage and roll or carry through the airport. There are way too many things that could go wrong and either someone will steal it, get hurt, or it could get lost. I have a smart phone but I wouldn't be so dumb as to use it for this purpose.
Lime Oct 2nd 2012 9:59PM
A friend of mine was raped by one of these suitcases.