B.C. company's AI-driven autonomous stroller turns heads at Las Vegas electronics show
A Vancouver company has rolled into the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas with a head-turning invention it says will make life easier for new parents.
The Gluxkind Ella is the “smartest stroller in the world,” according to company co-founder Kevin Huang.
Huang and his wife Anne Hunger came up with the idea in 2020 while expecting their first child.
Less than three years later, they have a fully working stroller equipped with a self-propelled motor and sensors that provide a 360-degree field of vision.
"It's motor-assisted so you can think of it like an e-bike,” said Hunger, who serves as Gluxkind’s CEO. “You put a little bit of effort in but the stroller itself really does the heavy lifting."
When there is a child inside, the autonomous motor will only work if someone is touching the stroller’s handlebar – otherwise the brakes engage.
According to Hunger, the real magic happens when you take the child out.
"So, for example, you have a newborn and they are crying. They want to be soothed and held,” she said. “Then parents can just do that – they have their two hands and their full attention for the child, and the stroller basically takes care of itself."
Hunger and Huang have taken the stroller out in Vancouver on many occasions and say it always draws lots of attention.
"I can tell you the number one comment is, 'Where were you when our kids were little?'" she said.
CTV News showed a video of the autonomous stroller to expectant mother Aryana Sye.
“I think it’s cool. My only concern as a soon-to-be new parent is the technology,” she said expressing safety concerns.
Hunger said safety is the company’s highest priority, and it is working to get the Gluxkind Ella certified to Canadian and American standards for strollers and consumer electronics.
She says the goal is to make life a little easier for parents, who sometimes have strollers weighted down with groceries or other items.
"Especially in Vancouver as well, there's so many hills and you see parents struggling going uphill and downhill with a fully-loaded stroller,” Hunger said.
The Gluxkind Ella was honoured with a CES Innovation Award.
The company hopes to ship its first 100 strollers sometime this year but the smart technology won’t come cheap – initial pricing will be US$3,800 per unit.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Police arrest 3 Indian nationals in killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar
Three people have been arrested and charged in the killing of B.C. Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar – as authorities continue investigating potential connections to the Indian government.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
Human remains found in rural Sask. possibly a decade old, RCMP say
RCMP say human remains found in a rural area in central Saskatchewan may have been there for a decade or more.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Canadian doctor concerned new weight-loss drug Wegovy may be used inappropriately
As Wegovy becomes available to Canadians starting Monday, a medical expert is cautioning patients wanting to use the drug to lose weight that no medication is a ''magic bullet,' and the new medication is meant particularly for people who meet certain criteria related to obesity and weight.
Drew Carey is never quitting 'The Price Is Right'
Drew Carey took over as host of 'The Price Is Right' and hopes he’s there for life. 'I'm not going anywhere,' he told 'Entertainment Tonight' of the job he took over from longtime host Bob Barker in 2007.