Amazon Astro came as a surprise when it was unveiled in September 2021. This peculiar device does a bit of everything, and serves as a robot companion that boasts facial recognition, impressive navigation skills, and a host of handy home security features. But a lot has changed with Astro since the initial announcement. Here’s a rundown of everything we know about Astro, including how you can get hold of it and add it to your home. Amazon refers to Astro as a “home robot.” This small device is designed to be an assistant throughout the house and helps with everything from home security to carrying cargo. It doesn’t have arms, but comes with a cargo tray. Users can place an item in the tray (or in one of the accessories, such as a cup holder – sold separately, of course) and ask Astro to bring the item to another family member. Thanks to facial recognition, Astro can be taught to distinguish different family members from each other. If your partner asks for a beer while watching the football game, just give it to Astro and let it handle the task. Along with facial recognition for individual family members, Astro can now also detect pets. It can even be set up to monitor your pet while you’re not at home and regularly update you on its wellbeing. You’ll still need to hire a sitter to walk your dog or feed your cat (poor Astro still doesn’t have limbs), but it’s still a fun feature. An example that Amazon showed of how handy the robot can be was in supporting older family members: checking on them, conducting a video call, and more. Despite all these features, the main area where Astro is likely to excel is its ability to keep an eye on the house. This little robot is equipped with several cameras and sensors.
A display that sees and smiles
Its “face” is a screen that can stream video calls, play Prime Video, and much more. It has some of the same features as the newer Echo Shows, where it can move to keep you centered in the frame, but it goes a step further by following users around the house to keep them centered. Large wheels and advanced navigation features enable it to maneuver smoothly through the house, while a powerful braking system allows Astro to stop when an obstacle appears in front of it. It uses SLAM (simultaneous localization and mapping) technology to navigate through the house.
Guardian when you’re not home
Astro is primarily designed as a home security measure. Its powerful security features enable it to monitor potential issues in your home, even without your input. Astro can autonomously monitor your home and investigate unusual events. It detects these events using motion and sound detection. For example, it uses the same features as Alexa Guard. If Astro detects the sound of breaking glass or a squealing smoke detector, it can investigate.
Battery life comparable to that of robot vacuum cleaners
Astro uses a docking system similar to that of robot vacuum cleaners. When not in use, it will return itself to the dock to recharge. Based on technical specifications, Astro can be fully charged in about 45 minutes to an hour and can run for several hours before needing to be recharged.
Pricing and availability
The selling price is $1,600, but it is only available by invitation. That means you can’t just log into your Amazon account and order the companion. No announcement has been made about when Astro will be publicly available, so stay tuned for more details. News on that website: Digitaltrends
