Looking up for the new innovations at CES 2023, I stumbled upon a buggy dubbed Ella. On seeing it, the first question that sprung to my mind was, what is a buggy doing at a consumer technology show? Did the makers confuse the event with Salone del Mobile? Well, that’s not the case because Glüxkind’s buggy is no ordinary stroller. It is a self-driving AI-powered smart stroller that enables all parents and their little ones to explore and navigate the world safely and comfortably.
“Ella, our smart stroller is the first of its kind,” Anne Hunger co-founder of Glüxkind tells Homecrux. In an exclusive chat with us, she reveals Glüxkind’s CES plans and speaks on Ella and the company’s future.
“The name Ella comes from my grandma – we want the stroller to be the silent support parents can rely upon and that cares for the kids as much as for the parents while giving parents a moment of rest when they need it most,” Anne informs.
Ella is designed and optimized for real life. With Ella’s adaptive push and brake assistance, parents and caregivers alike can enjoy effortless walks regardless of terrain; uphill, downhill, and even when fully loaded with groceries and toys, it will be a walk in the park.
“The stroller incorporates ‘Advanced Driver Assist System’ (ADAS) that lends you an extra pair of eyes and hands while you are on the go,” Anne states. Featuring a dual-motor drive system, Ella smart stroller will help you run the steepest hills with ease. The powerful dual-motors deliver gentle, silky smooth power to move your baby and cargo safely and effortlessly.
Although Glüxkind is based out of Vancouver, Canada; the start-up derives its name from German. Glüxkind name is inspired by the German word Gluckskind with “Gluck” implying lucky and “Kind” translating to child. “The inspiration behind starting a company and working on the smart stroller development was Kevin’s (CEO) and my experience of becoming a parent early on in 2020. We are used to so much technology in our daily lives and so much automation that makes life easier that we couldn’t believe that strollers, a key support gear for new parents, had not been modernized to the same standard.”
We have seen both fancy and flamboyant strollers in the past but never came across a bogey that incorporates both self-driving and other AI features. Glüxkind breaks the myth with the Ella smart stroller that is engineered to make your life better. It saves you from the hassle of continuously pushing the stroller!
With safety being its foremost priority, the 30lb stroller features a multi-level braking system that intelligently applies the brakes when the stroller is left unattended. Apart from intelligent brake assistance, it even carries additional cargo on your way home. The stroller accommodates at least six grocery bags and takes a load off your shoulders.
“Strollers are one of the last personal mobility devices that have not been motorized to some degree and we wanted to change that. Our initial proof of concept was an electric skateboard strapped to our regular stroller, remote controlled, and using it provided us with the AHA moment,” Anne explains.
In addition to core features, Ella’s Automatic Rock-My-Baby feature gives you a moment of peace while your little one snoozes peacefully thanks to the calming motion. The stroller also has a Hands free mode (Beta) when the stroller is unoccupied to give you the freedom to do what you need to do.
Also Read: DIOR Buggy Bag is Stroller for a Royal Baby
Divulging the company’s future plans, Anne stated, “We will launch a Kickstarter Campaign in the spring. There will be a limited number of strollers available initially and the best way for expecting or new parents to ensure they can get one of those is to sign up for our mailing list where we will send out regular updates regarding launch dates, promotions, and other products.”
We are fascinated by Ella, so we are going to follow its development closely. Check back for details in spring.
