Single Blog

The robot that is a cross between an assistant and a butler, moves on three wheels and costs just over a thousand dollars: here’s how to get one

His name is Astro and he is the robot candidate to become a real butler. This is
Amazon’s
latest gimmick already presented in the United States and promises to revolutionize the family ménage.
The cost of this limited edition gem should be around a thousand dollars but at the moment it can only be purchased in the States and by invitation only. A select few, therefore, will be able to grab the hi-tech waiter.

A very special technological gimmick if you consider that this nice “electronic friend” combines in a single device all the main features of the technology giant Amazon: robotics, artificial intelligence, home monitoring and even cloud services.

Let’s start with its appearance. What will this mini electronic waiter look like? About thirty centimeters tall, the robot has a 10-inch touchscreen on which you will be able to see its expressions such as a happy face or a slightly frowning look. In addition, he can get around the house freely on two wheels.
But let’s get to the point, what will Astro practically do? Your trusty factotum will be able to automatically patrol the house and send the owners a notification if it detects anything unusual.

Astro will be able to recognize your face and that of all family members. You can also ask him to give you items and he will be able to recognize the person who gave him an order. It can play music, show the weather, and answer any questions or curiosities you may have just like any
Echo
smart display. In short, a sort of
Alexa
but with wheels and even capable of carrying objects. It was the company itself that defined it as such. But the wheels are not only what distinguishes Astro from any other trivial voice assistant. The robot has been programmed with a series of movements and expressions that give it personality.

Suffice it to say that Astro is also equipped with a “periscope” andstensible camera that opens on his head. For example, it will be possible to check if a gas hob has been left on after leaving the house. All you have to do is ask Astro to go to the kitchen and position yourself in front of the stove.
“We’ve gone beyond screens with Alexa. We know that customers didn’t just want a device on wheels, they wanted something unique and personal. And that’s what we did with Astro,” said Dave Limp, Amazon’s head of devices and services.

Andy Jassy, appointed CEO of Amazon by Jeff Bezos after his departure, congratulated the
Amazon Devices
team”for the range of fantastic products announced. And, thanks for the Astro preview… I’m looking forward to customers having the chance to benefit from a whole new type of home robot”.
However, experts comment, despite the enthusiasm, Astro, “It’s still in its infancy, and it’s still a bit far from what a home assistant robot could be. He has no arms or appendages, can’t mop floors, can’t climb stairs, and can’t leave the house”.
In addition, by developing Astro, Amazon has also been careful about privacy issues. In fact, the company highlighted that the robot can be set with “out of bounds” zones, so it cannot enter certain areas or could be set to “do not disturb“. It also has buttons to turn off cameras and microphones, although it loses the ability to move when they’re turned off.