Ever watched your luggage bump its way off the check-in scale and wonder where it was going? Ever run out of juice and need a place to plug in your phone? Or perhaps you’ve lost that vital valise and dreamed of a day when it could be traced in real time? The time, it seems, it upon us.

New York-based Bluesmart has created the world’s first bona fide smart carry-on suitcase. The case, which is presently attracting crowdfunding on Indiegogo, connects to a user’s smartphone via a dedicated Bluetooth app, allowing them to lock and unlock it remotely, check its weight, receive alerts, and track it during travel. The app also syncs with online travel services to provide users with weather and delay reports, aiding the process of packing. The case won’t stop airlines losing your luggage but will increase the odds of you getting back your belongings while making the travel experience all the more smoother.

“We came up with the idea for Bluesmart after suffering a couple of bad experiences with our luggage, when airlines forced us to check bags only to have them mishandled or lost,” says co-founder of Bluesmart, Tomi Pierucci. “We realised that with all the amazing technology available today, we could do better. Suitcases haven’t seen much innovation in decades, so we decided to design a suitcase for this century.”

Another vital feature is the 3.8kg case’s built-in battery charger, which has a capacity to charge a smartphone or tablet up to six times. A proximity sensor locks the case automatically when it’s separated from its user, and protected compartments for laptops and other electronic devices can be accessed without opening the main compartment, a plus during airport security runs.

“More than 25 million bags are lost or mishandled by airlines every year,” explains Bluesmart co-founder Brian Chen. “This causes great pains to travellers all over the world. With the advent of microcomputers and the internet, we have the opportunity to prevent these problems while providing a smarter option to travellers of the connected generation.” www.indiegogo.com/project/preview/aefcdd56