This Helpful Robot Porter Is the Ultimate Shopping Assistant
The worst part about shopping is carrying your purchases. It turns the mall into an endurance event, complete with stairs and obstacles (i.e. other shoppers). Piaggio, the people who make Vespa scooters, believe they have the answer. Gita is a robot porter that trails you around the shops and through airports, carrying your bags. It’s the ultimate shopping assistant.
– Intelligent “cargo robot” can carry 40 pounds of luggage
– Gita can roll up ramps and into elevators, with a top speed of 22 mph
– Biometric security and security cameras ensure your items are safe
Ultimate Shopping Assistant
Gita looks like a flamboyant Italian relation of the Star Wars droids, complete with bright blue carbon fiber. Two inset wheels provide all the propulsion, steering the robot to follow your every move. With a remarkable top speed of 22 mph, Gita can even keep up with cyclists.
The robot measures 26 inches high, so you can only use Gita for smaller purchases. That said, the maximum load is 40 pounds. That should be sufficient for most trips to the grocery store.
[tweet_box]”Gita looks like a flamboyant Italian relation of the Star Wars droids”[/tweet_box]
You can take Gita wherever wheelchair users can go. The battery lasts for 8 hours of continuous use, and you can park the robot outside smaller premises. To open the lid, you need the right fingerprint and a code. The robot also has highly accurate GPS. Speaking about security, Piaggio Fast Forward COO Sasha Hoffman said:
“Gita is also covered with cameras and sensors, and always knows where it is. It’d be the dumbest thing in the world to try to steal or break into.”
What We Like
This little vehicle takes the strain out of shopping, particularly for the elderly or disabled. The high top speed also makes it great for cyclists who need some extra carrying capacity.
Room for Improvement
It’s not ready for market yet. Piaggio is running tests on American college campuses, initially with the aim of helping maintenance staff. There could also be some safety concerns about such a large robot maneuvering through busy shopping environments.
Availability
You will have to wait for some time before you can take Gita shopping. Piaggio is yet to reveal pricing details or a release date.
In the meantime, here’s a thought experiment: how would you use Gita? Chime in via the comments!
