Technological Institute of the Philippines

Manila Campus

Anti-theft Smart Luggage

Abenojar, John Allen

Andaya, John Michael
Brubio, Ernie Jake
San Pedro, John Veric
Tagalog, Ireneo Jr.

September 7, 2019

Mechanical Engineering Department

Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 The problem and its background

Travelling is very popular nowadays. Travel agencies and airline companies even make

travelling easier and cheaper to everyone. Tourism is one of the reasons to travel. People

love to visit new places, meet new people, learn new things and discover different cultures.

Others define travelling as a measure to relax from the world full of anxieties. However,

there are also travels related to business and visiting a family or meeting an old friend.

Thus, travelling becomes more and more common today and millennials are one of the

constant travellers. (World Tourism Organization, 2016) most of the young travellers of

today come from the generational cohort born between the early 1980s and 2000s, the

millennials. (Price, 2016) agrees that the millennials travellers are the endless explorers

thirsty for knowledge and prefers to travel to learn something new. (O'Kelly, 2016) stated

that millennials are more interested in travelling than older generation. Problems

encountered while travelling is inevitable. There are lost luggage, the need to recharge

empty battery gadgets, being stressed out in carrying heavy luggage, theft, bullet-planting

scheme and the like. Many travellers have experienced losing their luggage upon their

arrival not to mention the worries of losing something valuable inside it. Lost luggage is

very frustrating. It could ruin the whole trip. Today’s travellers want to stay connected

while on trip. They are very dependent to technology. They make travelling and

communications go hand in hand. (Shall Cross, 2015) aside from deftly using social media

to plan their trips, millennials have a nearly endless supply of Smartphone apps at their

disposal while exploring everything from language translation apps to maps, meet-ups,
ridesharing, bicycle-renting, photo-enhancing, and of course, travel booking. However,

none of these apps are useful when the Smartphone is out of juice. Empty battery gadget

means losing connections, it makes them anxious. On the other hand, heavy luggage

requires extra effort, instead of maximizing the time after reaching the destination, taking

a rest is the first thing a traveler wanted to do because of the exhausted feeling carrying or

dragging their baggage from terminal to terminal. Traveling activities could be

adventurous. Packing light and choosing the right luggage to fit all the necessary things is

the measure of a good traveler. It also means hassle free. To a feasible extent, everyone

wants to travel light. Carrying heavy loaded luggage is stressful and a characteristic of a

typical tourist. The integral part of traveling is choosing the right bags. The role of bags

cannot be underestimated; it is very essential. (Cable News Network, 2015) analysis of

passenger property loss claims filed with the Transportation Security Agency, an agency

of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that has authority over the security of the

traveling public in the United States, from 2010 to 2014 (Figure 1) shows 30,621 claims of

missing valuables, mostly packed in checked luggage. The rest occurred at security

checkpoints. Total property loss and items reportedly missing claimed (Figure 2) bloomed

to about $2.5 million. John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York topped the list

of airports with the most claims of thefts from luggage, followed by Los Angeles

International, Orlando International and Miami International, according to the data.

Hence, the present study is conducted to design a luggage that could provide the needs of

travellers today especially not only to our frequent travellers but also to our Overseas

Filipino Workers (OFWs). This smart luggage called as SuperCase has a Security Camera,

Smart Fingerprint Padlock Keyless Door Lock, Wheel Stop Fingerprint Recognition, GPS

Tracker Locator and Exterior USB Charging Port. The Product Design Comparison (Table

1) flashed the edge of SuperCase against other smart luggage wherein both TravelPro Crew

11 and SuperCase have an exterior USB Charging Port and Arlo Skye Carry-On has a built-

in charger. In the basis of security, TravelPro Crew 11 use RFID (Radio Frequency

Identification), Arlo Skye Carry-On use Code Protected Locks and SuperCase use Smart

Fingerprint Padlock Keyless Door Lock and a Mini Anti-theft Camera. Only SuperCase

has a tracking device compared to the other. In line of Exterior Fabric/Casing, TravelPro

Crew 11 use a Stain and Scratch Resistant Casing, Arlo Skye Carry-On use an Anti-

Microbial Lining Fabric, and SuperCase use Weatherproof Casing. Arlo Skye Carry-On

appears to be as an expensive smart luggage with $550 of its value, TravelPro Crew 11 can

be purchased at $200, and SuperCase is still currently checking its price.

Figure 1. List of Airports with the Number of Items Loss

Figure 2. List of Items Reportedly Missing

 Smart Luggage

TravelPro Samsara Smart Arlo Skye Away Carry-On SuperCase

Crew 11 Luggage Carry-On

USB Exterior USB Built-in Built-in Built-in Charger Exterior USB

Charging Port Charger Charger Charging Port

Port

RFID (Radio No Code Protected No Smart

Fingerprint
Frequency Locks Padlock Keyless
Security Door Lock
Identification)

No No No No Anti-theft

Camera

Tracker No No No No Mini - GPS

Device Tracker Locator

Aluminum

Exterior Stain and Alloy and Anti-Microbial

Fabric / Scratch Anodized Lining Polycarbonate Weatherproof

Casing Resistant Coating

Price $200 $435 $550 $245 Currently

Checking

Table 1. Feature Comparison

1.2 Objectives of the study

The objectives of the designed would be:

a. To combat a luggage-related anxiety like bullet-planting scheme using the anti-theft

camera installed inside (automatic live recording once the luggage is open and it can be

viewed on the app itself),

b. To provides 5x improvement in impact resistance over typical thermoplastic composite

material using Tegris which is a lightweight thermoplastic composite material of about

0.11kg/m2 single layer fabric and is also fully recyclable,

c. To provides an exterior USB Charging Port of about 5 volts yield from a power bank,

d. To track down a luggage when it’s away on the owner’s hand using Mini-Global

Positioning System Tracker Locator (Tracking Alarm, Sound Monitor and Voice

Recording),

e. To provides a Smart Fingerprint Padlock Keyless Door Lock with USB Rechargeable in

opening the luggage,

f. To reduce a typical medium size luggage having 24-25 inches in length from 9 pounds

(4.1 kg) to 6.6 pounds (3 kg),

g. To provides a Wheel Stop Fingerprint Recognition whenever someone try to attempt to

abduct the luggage

1.3 Significance of the study

This study is significant to the following:

 To the Overseas Filipino Workers, SuperCase gives them a credible evidence

whenever their valuables are stolen inside their luggage and protect them also

against luggage-related dilemmas like bullet-planting scheme. According to

statistics, the bullet-planting incidents had been sensationalized, as there was only

a small percentage—1,200 cases reported—out of the 34 million people who passed

through the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Salaverria, 2015).

 To the Pilgrims (Frequent Travellers), SuperCase gives them a charging port

station whenever they are run out of battery and they can track their luggage

whenever someone who has no permission stole their luggage.

1.4 Scope and delimitation of the study

This design was compile with the researcher started last June 2019. The proponents of this

research are the Mechanical Engineering Students of Project Study of Technological

Institute of Philippines-Manila. The proponents use SolidWorks in designing the prototype.

This design focuses on the Overseas Filipino Workers and frequent travellers to provide

safety and security to their luggage. The selection of respondents is only limited and this

involves a survey. This research is designed to have a thorough knowledge of luggage-

related dilemma and to solve problems with the aid of unique features of the design.
Chapter 2: Review of Related Literature

2.1 Recent developments of innovative baggage with integrated lithium batteries,

commonly known as “smart luggage” are being marketed and sold to the traveling public.

This study has devices which include integrated lithium batteries, motors, power banks,

GPS, GSM, Bluetooth, RFID or Wi-Fi technology. The presence of the lithium batteries

can contravene various regulatory requirements (Smart Baggage with Integrated Lithium

Batteries and/or Electronics, 2017).

2.2 This study outlines the development and innovation of a 4-in-1 luggage bag. It

highlights the biometric lock, the GPS (Global Positioning System) tracker, built-in

emergency power bank, and the luggage bag’s kick scooter. The study was designed and

made for the travellers to be reliable while travelling or during any occasion that uses

luggage bags. While providing convenience to the travellers, the prototype also features

a security of the luggage bag through the biometrics. The fingerprint scanner was used to

access and open the luggage bag, whereas the GPS device was used to track the luggage

bag which has a built-in power bank that makes the luggage bag a charging station for

gadgets. The luggage bag also features a kick scooter that is attached to the luggage bag

for an easy and convenient carrying of the luggage. The prototype was implemented and

tested at a bus terminal in the locality. The results of the study yielded positive affirmation

on its functionality, operability, aesthetics and safety category validating the need to

innovate and reproduce the luggage bag (Duat and Bebelone and Gallego, 2017).
2.3 Theft around the world continues to rise (Travelling Overseas, 2012). Tourists have

always been easy targets for thieves (Holcomb & Pizam, 2006). Data released by the U.S.

Office of Travel and Tourism Industries (OTTI) show that the total number of U.S. citizens

travelling abroad in 2011 increased by 76% since 2001. These statistics give us a sign that

more and more tourists are at risk of theft, especially bag theft, which is one of the most

prominent crimes against tourists (Holcomb & Pizam, 2006). Several travel bag brands

have launched anti-theft travel bag product lines with the aim of effectively protecting and

preventing the increasing number of travelers from bag thefts. However, research into the

investigation of tourists’ perceptions of and attitudes toward the existing designs of anti-

theft products is scarce (Han and Koo, 2013).

2.4 Radio frequency identification (RFID) has been identified as one of the ten greatest

contributory technologies of the 21st Century. This technology has found a rapidly growing

market, and an increasing variety of enterprises are employing RFID to improve the

efficiency of their operations and to gain competitive advantage. In the aviation industry,

major airports/airlines have been looking for the opportunity to adopt RFID in the area of

baggage handling for a long time. Many pilot tests have been done at numerous U.S.,

European, and Hong Kong airports. RFID tags were found to be far more accurate than bar

codes, and their performance was also measured to be well above that of bar codes. This

paper presents the state of RFID adoption planning, architecture and implementation at a

major airline, with a special focus on improved services due to improved baggage handling,

on increased airport/airline security and on frequent flier program services. This is

accomplished by integrating RFID technology together with networking and database

technologies (Deepti and Alok, 2010).

2.5 Fingerprint Recognition is one of the research hotspots in Biometrics. It refers to the

automated method of verifying a match between two human fingerprints. It is essentially a

challenging pattern recognition problem where two competing error rates: the False Accept

Rate (FAR) and the False Reject Rate (FRR) need to be minimized. Advancement of

computing capabilities led to the development of Automated Fingerprint Authentication

Systems (AFIS) and this led to extensive research especially in the last two decades. In this

paper, we attempt to give a comprehensive scoping of the fingerprint recognition problem

and address its major design and implementation issues as well as give an insight into its

future prospects (Ghosh and Ray, 2011).

2.6 Identifying various types of aluminum wheels was traditionally performed manually,

which could result in low efficiency, limited reliability, poor accuracy, and high labor cost.

This paper presents the design and implementation of an on-line automatic recognition

system for aluminum wheels based on laser trigonometry principle. The system mainly

consists of a recognition station, two laser displacement sensors, a ball-screw, an industrial

computer with data processing software, and a programmable logic controller (PLC).

Robust algorithms, as well as an ingenious database for storing information of wheels in

different styles and size are introduced for identifying the wheels. The feature data of a

special wheel, such as the diameter, thickness and number of spokes, can be determining
accurately by scanning the wheel using two laser displacement sensors and compare well

with those in the database. Results show that the system identifies each wheel correctly in

less than 20 seconds. The stability of this system is excellent. Significant cost saving, low

error rate, and high efficiency can be achieved (Zhang and Liu and Sun and Han, 2015).

2.7 Patent Search

2.7.1 Electronic Luggage Device

This patent is capable of communicating both wirelessly and by wired connection(s) to

other device. This patent is similar to this study because the creator also uses a GPS

tracking device and a Built-in Charger in charging devices.

2.7.2 Suitcase with Fingerprint Recognition Function

This patent comprises a voice recognition system, a wakening system and a driving system.

This patent is similar to this study because the innovator also uses a Fingerprint

Recognition System.

2.7.3 Multifunctional Luggage Case

This patent has a compass, a music player, LED lamps and a two-dimensional code which is

arranged on the front surface of the case body. This patent is similar because the designer also uses

a GPS Tracker Locator and a Charging Port Station.

2.7.4 Multi-functional precious Case and Bag Socket Device that charges

This patent has a precious power supply extension line, a treasured thatthe charging

extension line, the case and bag socket includes the stationary blade, and integrative taking

shape has the confession electrical slot of the salient that sets up side and side and fill

electrical slot in the middle of the stationary blade. This patent is similar to this study

because the builder also uses an Exterior USB Charging Port.

2.7.5Intelligent Aviation Suitcase

This patent comprises of an electric control lock and an automatic walking module. This

patent is similar to this study because the originator also uses an Anti-Theft Camera.
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