Futuristic Baby Carriage Is Ready for Emergencies

A concept design of an infant "travel pod" can be used for both casual travel and during disaster scenarios, providing a safe and healthy environment for the baby.

The Smart Baby Case, a prototype baby carrier presented to the 2009 Samsonite Design Competition (Enville, United Kingdom), includes air purification, automatic sequestration of liquid and solid waste produced by the child, and a high strength safety features to protect the baby. The pod is equipped with several access ports; a main hatch to place the baby in the pod, a "service" hatch that is little too small to pull the baby out of, but just large enough for parents to easily access the baby; and safety breath doors that allow for safe breathing and automatically shut when the air pressure is too low.

Inside the pod is a communication unit and light emitting diode (LED) screen, which allows two-way visual communication. Above this screen unit is an orange LED light (in the form of the Samsonite logo), which shows the quality of the air inside the pod. An auto-rocking unit operated by a small servo unit is located between the wells of the pod, and an "auto diaper" unit around the baby's bottom has a moisture sensor, which gently flushes away urine and waste with water to the waste storage unit at the front of the case.

Anatomic foam-like pads, which are made of an extremely soft, flexible material, are custom fitted to support the baby's body, especially around the head and spine. The skull area is additionally protected by liquid filled pads to prevent damage, sweating, and deformation. The entire unit is powered by rechargeable batteries, or alternatively can be plugged right into a power outlet.

"There is a bit of a misunderstanding in that this is not a device for growing children during their whole life, it is just a device which can provide a safe and healthy condition during 2 or 3 hours while you can`t change your baby or staying in some poor facilities or places during a trip or airport," commented Smart Baby Case designer Pouyan Mokhtarani (Tehran, Iran).

Related Links:
Samsonite Design Competition
Pouyan Mokhtarani