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Smart luggage with lithium batteries are facing new travel restrictions

39 points by SirLJ 9y ago

mtgx 9y ago
Hopefully this will put pressure on battery makers to research and switch to (fully) solid-state batteries as soon as possible. I think the technology is almost ready, but of course it will never come to market unless the whole industry pretty much decides to switch to it within a span of a couple of years in order to make it price-competitive with Li-Ion.
- skolos 9y ago
  I don't think it will. Smart luggage market is tiny [1] to put any pressure on Li-Ion batteries [2]. [1] Projected to be $2b in 2024 - https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/smart-luggage-market https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/smart-luggage-market [2] Projected to be $67b in 2022 - http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Global-Size-for-Lithium-Ion-Battery-Market-Growth-Worth-over-USD-67-70-Bn-by-2022Global-lithium-Ion-battery-market-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-13-70-between-2017-and-2022-The-market-revenue-1013089580 http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Global-Size-f...
deleted 9y ago
[deleted]
exabrial 9y ago
I thought these "smart suitcases" were sort of gimmicky anyway... If you want a portable battery, just get an Anker! They work great and they fit in your carryon.
- StavrosK 9y ago
  I've never heard of smart suitcases before, but the article says they do a range of things. I agree that just putting a power pack on your suitcase is the gift card equivalent of traveling: You take a perfectly usable thing and constrain it to a subset of its functionality for no reason.
- philipodonnell 9y ago
  I can see the appeal, if pricey right now. Portable stuff is portable so it gets 'ported' lots of different places that don't always include being back in my suitcase when I leave for the airport. To date I have solved this by buying tons of portable batteries and playing the averages that one of them will end up in my suitcase at all times. But my suitcase is probably always going to be in my suitcase, so that does solve a real problem for me.
  - davidgh 9y ago
    Sorry, a bit off topic. I travel a fair amount and some years ago I came to the conclusion that I needed to put together a “kit” of adapters, chargers, a portable battery, etc. that never leaves my travel backpack. While it seems a bit wasteful to have these things in duplicate, it made the night before travel so much more peaceful. I took this concept a bit further and packed up common things like a belt, workout clothes, underwear, etc. that when not being worn or washed always stay in my luggage. Again, made the night before a trip much better. Now it’s only a matter of finding and packing my shirts and pants. My most recent experiment is a bit more extreme. I visit an office in China every other month and I packed up an entire bag with everything I need for a week stay - everything. I’ve made arrangements with the hotel I stay at to do my laundry when I leave and it’s ready for me to grab when I return the next time. There is nothing more convenient than getting ready for a long international trip when realizing that all you need to do is grab your laptop and go.
    - epicide 9y ago
      This is pretty similar to what I've been doing for work travel. I have a single medium sized backpack that fits a few days worth of clothes as well as things like laptop, Switch, etc. The biggest space saver is bringing some travel detergent and washing clothes in the sink/bath if needed. I also use my after work t-shirts as undershirts during the day. I generally only carry one or two pair of pants as they are the largest single item. For work specifically, having wrinkle-free clothing goes a long way. I've also done the same thing as you for cables and a few other things by just always leaving them in the bag. Cables are cheap enough to have dedicated ones (especially if you consider the cost of buying extra ones anyway when you forget one). Not only does packing take me less than 10 minutes, I generally don't feel like I've forgotten anything. On top of all that, actually traveling is way less stressful. It's easier moving around the airport (even just going to the bathroom is annoying when you're dragging around even the smallest of suitcases). I can also generally disregard when I board since I do not care about overhead space (my bag fits under the seat in front of me).
kragen 9y ago
It's interesting that the article doesn't mention what I think of as the killer app for smart luggage, especially smart luggage with batteries that are difficult to remove: phoning you to tell you it's been stolen, with the GPS coordinates and a bunch of high-resolution photos of the thieves.
- zodPod 9y ago
  "They weigh themselves, report their locations, provide power and Wi-Fi signals for gadgets, offer rides to the gate and even follow travelers around." -The article
  - kragen 9y ago
    Yup, I missed that part, sure enough.
    - zodPod 9y ago
      Glad I could help! It is an insanely awesome use of "smart luggage" though! I didn't even realize there was such a thing until I read the article! Cool stuff!
- Piskvorrr 9y ago
  Yeah, well, about that: travelling around in metal containers and/or three basements deep gives you pretty unreliable geographic coordinates (as in "it's somewhere in a 3-mile circle around this airport"). Taking photos would be nice - if the camera has any view at all and the light doesn't suck. Also relevant is the backchannel - what good is a phonecall if you don't have coverage? (Mostly solvable problems, IMNSHO - but unsolved as of early 2018.)
mynegation 9y ago
Does anyone know why does checked-in luggage presents more risk than carry on (presumably). Is it temperature and pressure difference or just visibility and accessibility for someone with a fire extinguisher?
- BrentOzar 9y ago
  Just visibility & accessibility. Checked baggage is packed in tightly along with other combustibles. If you start a fire in the hold, it'll spread too quickly to detect, let alone extinguish. https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/9626/is-it-possible-to-access-the-baggage-compartment-in-flight https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/9626/is-it-poss...
- davidgh 9y ago
  “...if a laptop [battery] catches fire in the cabin, it will be noticed immediately and steps can be taken to put it out. And though there are fire safety systems in the hold of an airplane, they aren't well-equipped to deal with the type of fire that lithium-ion batteries generate.” https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/problem-with-stowing-lithium-ion-batteries-on-planes/ https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/problem-with-sto...
- Piskvorrr 9y ago
  There's no way to send "someone with a fire extinguisher" to a cargo hold of a modern commercial airliner while in flight (Edit: limited access exists in some airliners, still not something you want to crawl through with a fire extinguisher). The holds do have fire suppression systems, but modern batteries pack a lot of energy, and the extinguishers might not be sufficient. Plus, the holds are literally crammed full, further hindering any firefighting efforts.
WalterBright 9y ago
Why not use NiCads for the luggage?
- vgf 9y ago
  NiMH is probably more reasonable? But still, about half the energy density compared to Li-ion. http://www.epectec.com/images/battery-comparison-energy-density.jpg http://www.epectec.com/images/battery-comparison-energy-dens...
brndnmtthws 9y ago
"Smart luggage" seems like a dumb idea. If I want a battery I'll just buy a battery. I don't see what you gain from having your battery physically attached to your suitcase, aside from the gimmickry. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who love gimmicks and will probably buy it anyway.
- goda90 9y ago
  They can do more than charge gadgets. from the article: "They weigh themselves, report their locations, provide power and Wi-Fi signals for gadgets, offer rides to the gate and even follow travelers around."
  - brndnmtthws 9y ago
    Sounds like a terrible idea.
- jeffwass 9y ago
  I don’t consider any luggage ‘smart’ unless it’s made of sapient pearwood.
toomanybeersies 9y ago
Call me old fashioned, but what's the point of smart luggage? What's wrong with the dumb luggage that we've been using for decades? I travel with an army surplus duffel bag, it cost me $20. It's probably 40 years old, and will last another 40 years with any luck. It's so convenient that it's literally the only luggage I brought with me (apart from my carry on) when I moved countries. It also has the advantage that it's unlikely to be stolen, since it looks so cheap. I do understand why people want nicer suitcases with wheels and hard exteriors. But do you really need a suitcase that will follow you? It's just extra weight that you could use for actual luggage.

39 points by SirLJ 9y ago

mtgx 9y ago

Hopefully this will put pressure on battery makers to research and switch to (fully) solid-state batteries as soon as possible. I think the technology is almost ready, but of course it will never come to market unless the whole industry pretty much decides to switch to it within a span of a couple of years in order to make it price-competitive with Li-Ion.

skolos 9y ago
I don't think it will. Smart luggage market is tiny [1] to put any pressure on Li-Ion batteries [2]. [1] Projected to be $2b in 2024 - https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/smart-luggage-market https://www.gminsights.com/pressrelease/smart-luggage-market [2] Projected to be $67b in 2022 - http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Global-Size-for-Lithium-Ion-Battery-Market-Growth-Worth-over-USD-67-70-Bn-by-2022Global-lithium-Ion-battery-market-is-expected-to-grow-at-a-CAGR-of-13-70-between-2017-and-2022-The-market-revenue-1013089580 http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/Global-Size-f...

deleted 9y ago

[deleted]

exabrial 9y ago

I thought these "smart suitcases" were sort of gimmicky anyway... If you want a portable battery, just get an Anker! They work great and they fit in your carryon.

StavrosK 9y ago
I've never heard of smart suitcases before, but the article says they do a range of things. I agree that just putting a power pack on your suitcase is the gift card equivalent of traveling: You take a perfectly usable thing and constrain it to a subset of its functionality for no reason.
philipodonnell 9y ago
I can see the appeal, if pricey right now. Portable stuff is portable so it gets 'ported' lots of different places that don't always include being back in my suitcase when I leave for the airport. To date I have solved this by buying tons of portable batteries and playing the averages that one of them will end up in my suitcase at all times. But my suitcase is probably always going to be in my suitcase, so that does solve a real problem for me.
- davidgh 9y ago
  Sorry, a bit off topic. I travel a fair amount and some years ago I came to the conclusion that I needed to put together a “kit” of adapters, chargers, a portable battery, etc. that never leaves my travel backpack. While it seems a bit wasteful to have these things in duplicate, it made the night before travel so much more peaceful. I took this concept a bit further and packed up common things like a belt, workout clothes, underwear, etc. that when not being worn or washed always stay in my luggage. Again, made the night before a trip much better. Now it’s only a matter of finding and packing my shirts and pants. My most recent experiment is a bit more extreme. I visit an office in China every other month and I packed up an entire bag with everything I need for a week stay - everything. I’ve made arrangements with the hotel I stay at to do my laundry when I leave and it’s ready for me to grab when I return the next time. There is nothing more convenient than getting ready for a long international trip when realizing that all you need to do is grab your laptop and go.
  - epicide 9y ago
    This is pretty similar to what I've been doing for work travel. I have a single medium sized backpack that fits a few days worth of clothes as well as things like laptop, Switch, etc. The biggest space saver is bringing some travel detergent and washing clothes in the sink/bath if needed. I also use my after work t-shirts as undershirts during the day. I generally only carry one or two pair of pants as they are the largest single item. For work specifically, having wrinkle-free clothing goes a long way. I've also done the same thing as you for cables and a few other things by just always leaving them in the bag. Cables are cheap enough to have dedicated ones (especially if you consider the cost of buying extra ones anyway when you forget one). Not only does packing take me less than 10 minutes, I generally don't feel like I've forgotten anything. On top of all that, actually traveling is way less stressful. It's easier moving around the airport (even just going to the bathroom is annoying when you're dragging around even the smallest of suitcases). I can also generally disregard when I board since I do not care about overhead space (my bag fits under the seat in front of me).

kragen 9y ago

It's interesting that the article doesn't mention what I think of as the killer app for smart luggage, especially smart luggage with batteries that are difficult to remove: phoning you to tell you it's been stolen, with the GPS coordinates and a bunch of high-resolution photos of the thieves.

zodPod 9y ago
"They weigh themselves, report their locations, provide power and Wi-Fi signals for gadgets, offer rides to the gate and even follow travelers around." -The article
- kragen 9y ago
  Yup, I missed that part, sure enough.
  - zodPod 9y ago
    Glad I could help! It is an insanely awesome use of "smart luggage" though! I didn't even realize there was such a thing until I read the article! Cool stuff!
Piskvorrr 9y ago
Yeah, well, about that: travelling around in metal containers and/or three basements deep gives you pretty unreliable geographic coordinates (as in "it's somewhere in a 3-mile circle around this airport"). Taking photos would be nice - if the camera has any view at all and the light doesn't suck. Also relevant is the backchannel - what good is a phonecall if you don't have coverage? (Mostly solvable problems, IMNSHO - but unsolved as of early 2018.)

mynegation 9y ago

Does anyone know why does checked-in luggage presents more risk than carry on (presumably). Is it temperature and pressure difference or just visibility and accessibility for someone with a fire extinguisher?

BrentOzar 9y ago
Just visibility & accessibility. Checked baggage is packed in tightly along with other combustibles. If you start a fire in the hold, it'll spread too quickly to detect, let alone extinguish. https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/9626/is-it-possible-to-access-the-baggage-compartment-in-flight https://aviation.stackexchange.com/questions/9626/is-it-poss...
davidgh 9y ago
“...if a laptop [battery] catches fire in the cabin, it will be noticed immediately and steps can be taken to put it out. And though there are fire safety systems in the hold of an airplane, they aren't well-equipped to deal with the type of fire that lithium-ion batteries generate.” https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/problem-with-stowing-lithium-ion-batteries-on-planes/ https://www.consumerreports.org/electronics/problem-with-sto...
Piskvorrr 9y ago
There's no way to send "someone with a fire extinguisher" to a cargo hold of a modern commercial airliner while in flight (Edit: limited access exists in some airliners, still not something you want to crawl through with a fire extinguisher). The holds do have fire suppression systems, but modern batteries pack a lot of energy, and the extinguishers might not be sufficient. Plus, the holds are literally crammed full, further hindering any firefighting efforts.

WalterBright 9y ago

Why not use NiCads for the luggage?

vgf 9y ago
NiMH is probably more reasonable? But still, about half the energy density compared to Li-ion. http://www.epectec.com/images/battery-comparison-energy-density.jpg http://www.epectec.com/images/battery-comparison-energy-dens...

brndnmtthws 9y ago

"Smart luggage" seems like a dumb idea. If I want a battery I'll just buy a battery. I don't see what you gain from having your battery physically attached to your suitcase, aside from the gimmickry. Unfortunately there are a lot of people who love gimmicks and will probably buy it anyway.

goda90 9y ago
They can do more than charge gadgets. from the article: "They weigh themselves, report their locations, provide power and Wi-Fi signals for gadgets, offer rides to the gate and even follow travelers around."
- brndnmtthws 9y ago
  Sounds like a terrible idea.
jeffwass 9y ago
I don’t consider any luggage ‘smart’ unless it’s made of sapient pearwood.

toomanybeersies 9y ago

Call me old fashioned, but what's the point of smart luggage? What's wrong with the dumb luggage that we've been using for decades? I travel with an army surplus duffel bag, it cost me $20. It's probably 40 years old, and will last another 40 years with any luck. It's so convenient that it's literally the only luggage I brought with me (apart from my carry on) when I moved countries. It also has the advantage that it's unlikely to be stolen, since it looks so cheap. I do understand why people want nicer suitcases with wheels and hard exteriors. But do you really need a suitcase that will follow you? It's just extra weight that you could use for actual luggage.