This Robotic Backpack Rolls on Its Own!

Though a backpack that drives itself seems extremely near-futuristic, this one, by Instructables author “TannerTech,” actually looks like it wouldn’t be too hard to pull off.

The build consists of two motors mounted to the bag via paint stirrers, and an Arduino Mega to control it via an H-bridge circuit. The Mega is in turn controlled by an Android phone running an “Arduino bluetooth controller” app, which translates touchscreen button presses into characters that are sent to the board via a Bluetooth module.

You can see more of the project in the video below, or skip to around 6:00 to see it in action! Where was this a few years ago when we were walking to and from class with several pounds of books strapped to our aching backs?