- Canadian startup Glüxkind is selling a self-driving baby stroller called the Ella AI for $3,300.
- The AI-powered stroller includes motors, a brake-assist, automatic rocking, and other features.
This new $3,300 self-driving stroller won't run off your baby. In fact, the stroller that no parent seemed to ask for may be every parent's new best friend.
The Ella AI, made by Canadian startup Glüxkind, features a dual-motor system designed for walking uphill and an automatic brake assist function for walking downhill, in case the parent accidentally drops something or lets go of the handle, per Glüxkind's website. The technology is similar to pedal-assistance in electric bikes, according to Auto Evolution.
Meant to serve as "an extra pair of eyes and an extra set of hands," the AI-powered stroller contains a 360-degree "safety bubble" made up of sensors that can monitor its surroundings and alert parents when it detects any potential obstructions such as cars and bikes.
Parents can also activate hands-free strolling, which allows the stroller to drive itself when a baby wants to walk or be held. The stroller cannot drive itself when a baby is inside of it.
For additional support, the Glüxkind stroller has a built in a "rock-my-baby" mode which automatically rocks the stroller for a comforting effect when the stroller is not in motion. It also has a white noise feature that can help babies stay asleep.
Glüxkind — a name inspired by the German word for "lucky child" — was founded in 2020 by Anne Hunger and Kevin Huang who were inspired to develop the stroller as new parents themselves, according to a press release.
The company displayed its smart stroller at the 2023 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and was named the CES 2023 Innovation Awards Honoree.
Parents and caretakers alike can now reserve the stroller by putting down a $200 deposit. Deliveries are slated to begin in April.