Zera Labs
I haven’t used this product myself, but even on screen it appears to be an impressive little travel accessory for busy professionals.
The lunchbox-sized Launbot relies on heat and air pressure to dry clothes indoors and smooth out wrinkles at the same time. It works on a wide range of items—from shirts and trousers to dresses and underwear—and can “iron” all kinds of shirts and pants.
To use it, you plug the Launbot into a wall socket, hang it anywhere in the room, attach either the torso or pants airbag to the base, and drape your clothes over it. The device then inflates the airbag beneath the garment and warms it from the inside, drying the fabric while easing out creases simultaneously.
How the Launbot Dries and De-Wrinkles Clothes
The moisture left in freshly washed clothes actually helps remove wrinkles, much like steam ironing. According to Zera Labs, the maker of the device, a T-shirt should take roughly 30 minutes to dry and smooth out, though timing depends on the fabric and garment type. Place clothes inside the Launbot’s drying bag, which can hold five or six items at once, to dry them quickly.
Inside the airbags, two small turbines draw in and circulate outside air at a steady rate, while a graphene heater warms it, with a built-in chip keeping the temperature in check. The UV light eliminates microorganisms inside the drying bag. The device runs fairly quietly at around 45 dB—about the same level as normal household background noise.
Zera Labs
The Launbot is compact and travel-friendly, measuring 5.7 by 2.3 inches (145 by 170 mm) and weighing about 21.2 ounces (600 g), which makes it easy to pack for work trips. It can accommodate garments up to U.S./European size XXL and is available with different plug options that work with 100–240 V outlets. Zera also notes that the drying bags are constructed from a lightweight yet durable material designed to last for years.
Zera Labs
Practical for Travel, Not a Complete Replacement
All of this sounds encouraging, particularly for frequent travelers who don’t always have the time or space to iron their clothes. With its small capacity, it won’t replace a home dryer, and you’ll still need to follow care instructions—delicate fabrics like cashmere are better left to air drying. While it’s an interesting concept, it’s more practical for people who struggle to access laundry services while traveling, rather than an essential item for every traveler. You’ll also need something suitable to hang it from during use.
The Launbot is expected to sell for around $139, but at the time of writing it’s available for $109 through its Kickstarter campaign. That price includes the main unit, a drying bag, and a hanger. For $119, there’s a higher-value bundle that adds the pants and torso airbags along with a carrying case, which may be worth the extra cost for frequent use.
As with any crowdfunding project, there’s always some level of risk to consider before backing it. That said, Zera Labs has a track record of releasing and delivering several other products, including vacuum–duster hybrids, pocket shavers, and a dental flosser. The company also outlines the Launbot’s design and testing process on its campaign page, and so far it has attracted more than $600,000 in funding from over 4,700 supporters.
Read the original article on: New Atlas
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