Canadian company’s self-driving stroller wins big at this year’s CES
Global News
The self-driving Ella AI smart stroller from Vancouver startup GluxKind won a big award at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.
Move over, self-driving cars, self-driving strollers are here to steal the spotlight.
A Canadian-based startup is creating a lot of buzz at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, for their offering of a stroller that includes hands-free navigation.
But before you panic and think “wow, that sounds incredibly unsafe,” there’s one huge disclaimer – the self-driving function only works if a child isn’t in the stroller.
The Ella AI smart stroller is the brainchild of Anne Hunger and Kevin Huang, the founders of Vancouver baby gear startup GlüxKind, who were inspired to develop the device in 2020 as new parents, according to a press release.
Less than three years later, they’re getting set to ship out a fully formed product that comes equipped with a self-propelled motor and 360-degree sensors.
It’s meant to serve as “an extra pair of eyes and an extra set of hands” with its 360-degree “safety bubble” that constantly monitors its surroundings, and will automatically stop if it goes out of range or encounters an obstacle. It will also sound an alert if it detects potential obstructions like cars or bikes.
If the child is in the stroller, a dual-motor system (similar to an e-bike) can help take up some of the pushing burden for those walking uphill, and an automatic brake assist function can help slow and stop the stroller going downhill.
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