A demonstration of an artificial intelligence-powered suitcase, designed to assist visually impaired individuals as a robotic alternative to guide dogs, will be conducted at the Osaka Expo, set to open on Sunday.

The latest model incorporates generative AI technology, enabling it to describe the surrounding environment through voice feedback. Equipped with a built-in camera and sensors, the suitcase can analyze its surroundings and provide real-time guidance to users.

In late January, an AI suitcase was demonstrated at the National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation, known as Miraikan, in Tokyo. Resembling a regular suitcase, the device activated when Chieko Asakawa, the museum's chief executive director and a key member of the development team, grasped its handle at hip level. Asakawa, who is visually impaired, was guided by the suitcase as it moved quietly.

After moving a few meters, the AI suitcase stopped when a passerby stepped in front of it, announcing, "I stopped because there is a person ahead of us."

It then provided an audio description of the surroundings, saying, "To the right, there is a sign reading 'The National Museum of Emerging Science and Innovation' on a white wall, along with trees and a high-rise building."

The development of the AI suitcase traces back to challenges Asakawa faced during a 2017 business trip while studying mobility support for visually impaired individuals at Carnegie Mellon University in the United States. "I wished my suitcase would move automatically and guide me," she recalled.

Visually impaired individuals commonly rely on a white cane or a guide dog when walking alone. Navigating unfamiliar places without human assistance can be difficult, however.

Development of the AI suitcase began in 2017, led by Carnegie Mellon University. In 2019, a consortium of supporting companies was established to advance the project. After demonstration tests in a variety of environments, including airports and parks, test operations for the general public began at Miraikan in 2024.

Once a destination is set via a dedicated smartphone app, the suitcase-style robot guides the user while navigating around passersby and obstacles using its built-in computer, sensors and camera.

The development team chose a suitcase-style design to ensure that the device blends in naturally during everyday street use. The AI suitcase is about 100 centimeters tall, including the handle, with a width of about 40 cm and a depth of 24 cm. It weighs around 25 kilograms.

The model developed for the expo demonstration features newly designed wheels that allow for smoother navigation over bumps. Equipped with a large-scale language model, the foundation of generative AI, the suitcase can analyze its surroundings using a camera and provide voice-guided assistance.

During the expo, the suitcase will be equipped with an AI-powered speech dialogue function, allowing it to answer visitor questions about pavilions and other facilities. It will also suggest recommended destinations according to visitors' interests. The function will support multiple languages, including English.

Multiple units will operate simultaneously throughout the expo, which will be held in Osaka until October, to identify technical issues that need to be addressed before the suitcase's practical implementation.

"My dream is to walk around the expo venue's Grand Ring, which has a circumference of 2 kilometers, with the AI suitcase while 'viewing' the surrounding scenery," Asakawa said. "We hope to use data from the demonstration test to advance the next stage of technological development."
Source; https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/04/11/japan/science-health/expo-ai-suitcase/