Self-propelling item of luggage and method for operating a self-propelling item of luggage

A self-propelling item of luggage, comprising:

• at least one storage area;
• a drive;
• a camera;
• a data processing device which is designed to recognize an authorized user in a predefined distance range using at least one image captured with the camera and based on at least one visual feature extracted from the at least one image, and to actuate the drive so that the self-propelling item of luggage follows the authorized user in a self-propelling manner at a distance,
• at least one authorization apparatus through which an acquisition of the at least one predefined reference image can be authorized,
• wherein the at least one visual feature is characteristic of at least one item of clothing of the authorized user,
• at least one of the at least one visual feature is selected from a coloring of the at least one item of clothing of the authorized user, a size of the at least one item of clothing of the authorized user, or a proportion of at least two items of clothing of the authorized user, and the at least one visual feature comprises a code worn by the authorized user,
• the data processing device is configured to identify the authorized user based on a comparison with the at least one predefined reference image of the authorized user,
• the data processing device is configured to store a plurality of predefined reference images or to read the plurality of predefined reference images from a memory, and to recognize the authorized user based on the at least one predefined reference image from the plurality of predefined reference images, and
• the at least one authorization apparatus comprises at least one of a fingerprint scanner, an iris scanner, a code input apparatus, a magnetic card reader, and an RFID reader.