Samsung and Samsonite Team-up to Create a Smart Luggage that can Check Itself in at Airports

Samsung and Samsonite, have brad names that sound like they born from the same parent company. While this is a purely coincidental, the two companies are now working together on a product that might revolutionize the way we travel. Checking in at airports has become a huge hassle, especially when one has bags. Not only we struggle to check our bags in, we often lose them when they are forgotten or misplaced by the airlines agents. This is all about to change.

Bags with embedded GPS chips

Samsung and Samsonite aim to provide luggage with embedded chips that can be tracked through GPS, which you may appreciate if you have ever lost a bag at an airport. The bag can also offer anti-tampering alerts to warn you if someone has attempted to open your bag. Samsung is getting involved to provide the chip and software, while Samsonite will be looking to integrate the technology into some of its existing bags or create an entirely new line.

‘Smart luggage will be able to communicate with you but it needs to be able to do much more than just give its location’ … ‘We are working with Samsung to create something that is more than a gimmick.’ – Samsonite chief executive Ramesh Tainwala.

Bags will provide self-checking features

Samsonite is also working with airlines on a self-check-in feature, which will automatically provide the airport with baggage information to ensure the correct destination and airline, and to check the bag’s weight against any limits. Emirates, Lufthansa and KLM Air France are said to be highly interested in these features.

Self-propelling bags in the future

Something even more futuristic is brewing at Samsonite. The company is said to be developing a ‘self-propelling’ bag. While the project is “not really that practical yet,” as the engine takes up a third of the bag’s space and weighs 20 kilos, the idea is excellent. Think of times when you had to rush to your gate or checking counter, while also lugging multiple heavy bags.