A portable battery to charge your devices can really come in handy, but would you accept one that followed you around like a puppy?
Solar power equipment firm Jackery sure hopes so. According to CNET, the California-based company introduced its Solar Mars Bot at this year's Consumer Electronics Show, generating plenty of buzz and even more questions. Questions like "Does it just follow you around all day?" And "Can you really just leave it outside?"
The answer to both questions is yes. The autonomous battery on wheels can putter around outside all day, following the sun's path and recharging itself via retractable solar panels that can generate up to 600 watts of power. It can follow its owner around, too — and it won't even beg for treats. And with a whopping 5kWh power reserve (that's kilowatt hours), you could power up a small cabin for a couple of days with plenty left over to charge your phone. It's waterproof, can take a beating, and can keep up with a brisk walking pace.
The Solar Mars Bot hasn't been released yet, but Jackery hopes that it will find uses for rescue, camping, off-grid homes, and van life fans.